CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—At least 295 centenarians in Central Luzon have availed themselves of P100,000 centenarian-cash gift from the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
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Susan Hernandez of the DSWD’s Social Pension Unit said the figure represents 86 percent of the 342 target who already received their centenarian cash incentive.
Bulacan has the highest number with 90 beneficiaries for total centenarian cash incentives of P9 million; Nueva Ecija with 69 beneficiaries, P6.9 million; Pampanga with 49 beneficiaries, P4.9 million; Tarlac with 45 beneficiaries, P4.5 million; Zambales and Bataan with 17 beneficiaries each, for a P3.4-million total; and Aurora with eight beneficiaries, P800,000.
In addition, there were 107 senior citizens who complied with the requirements per guidelines of the program, Hernandez said.
The DSWD field office in Region 3 coordinated with local government units (LGUs) for the payout, using the door-to-door scheme as mode of payment to some centenarians who could no longer travel, are bedridden, or in the hospital.
Section 2 of Republic Act 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016,” stated all Filipinos who reach the age of 100 years old, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, shall be honored with a Letter of Felicitation from the President of the Philippines congratulating the celebrant for his or her longevity, and a centenarian gift in the amount of P100,000.
The centenarians will receive a plaque of recognition and cash incentive from their respective city or municipal governments in appropriate ceremonies. The amount of the additional incentive shall be determined by the LGUs concerned.
Under the law, the awards and incentives are given to the centenarians on the first Sunday of October, declared as the National Respect for Centenarians Day in line with the Elderly Filipino Week celebration.
However, considering the age of the centenarians, the DSWD released the cash gift to the identified beneficiaries earlier.
Centenarians who died upon the effectivity of the law will be given a posthumous plaque of recognition together with the cash incentive to be received by their nearest surviving relative or family.
To avail themselves of the cash incentive, a centenarian must present their birth certificate or Philippine passport for those living overseas.
If these documents are not available, the centenarian may present their senior citizen’s identification card or any other Philippine government-issued ID showing their citizenship and date of birth.
source:businessmirror.com.ph/a>