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Thursday, March 28, 2024

P200k for Manila centenarians ready

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Starting this year, Manileños who reach 100 years of age stand to receive up to P200,000 as the city government’s birthday cash gift to centenarians, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada announced.

Estrada said half of the amount will come from the city government and the other half will come from the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

DSWD has announced the release this April of the P100,000 cash incentives to each of the 2,992 identified centenarians last year following the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada

Even before the enactment of the subject law, the Estrada administration has been giving away P100,000 cash gift to each centenarian in the city. At least 30 centenarians have been given the incentives since April last year.

“When I assumed the mayorship in 2013, I learned there is no program for the senior citizens during the former administration of Manila. The senior citizens are not recognized in Manila. Even your birthday gift is not even given,” Estrada said in a recent meeting with a group of Manila’s senior citizens at the city hall.

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The mayor said he is now glad that there are activities for the senior citizens. 

He said he ordered the health officers and doctors in the public hospitals and health centers to give them priorities in the medicines, medical attention, and others.

The mayor’s daughter, Jerika Ejercito Estrada, who serves as adviser on the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs’ programs and projects, said, “Even in your age, you showed your strength and happiness in playing in our gateball friendship tournament. You are the inspiration of our youth.”

Section 2 of RA 10868 states that 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 a gift in the amount of P100,000.

They will also receive cash incentive from their respective city or municipal governments in appropriate ceremonies, with the amount of the additional incentive to be determined by the LGU concerned.

The awards and incentives are to be 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, the law further states.

The DSWD also announced that for 2017, there is already an approved budget of P100 million for identified 1,000 centenarians nationwide.

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