Thousands of indigent senior citizens in the CALABARZON region have signed up for the National ID system, as government agencies move to make the identification card a requirement for claiming social pension benefits starting September 2025.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region IV-A said it has registered more than 15,000 indigent senior citizens as of July 31, 2025.

PSA said this is a part of a nationwide campaign to ensure that vulnerable elderly Filipinos can continue receiving assistance without delays once the new rule from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) takes effect.

Under the directive, the National ID will become the primary valid proof of identity for beneficiaries of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program (SPISCP).

PSA said the move aims to make the system more efficient, reduce fraud, and prevent duplicate claims.

Since May 2025, PSA CALABARZON, in coordination with local governments and social welfare offices, has been conducting on-site registration in government halls, deploying mobile units to remote barangays, and offering assisted registration for homebound or mobility-impaired seniors.

The agency encouraged senior citizens, their families, and caregivers to reach out to their local PSA or LGU offices to schedule their registration, assuring that “no senior citizen will be left behind” in the transition.