Posted on by Pamilya Pantawid

 Rosa Pasan Verba (L), 100 years old from the town of Midsayap, North Cotabato, and Lutraga Camus Besa (R), 100 years of age also from Midsayap, were among the 29 centenarians provided with cash incentive in Region 12. (DSWD)

KORONADAL CITY — At least twenty-nine elders that reached 100 years of age were provided cash aid as they were honored by the government, a senior official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.

DSWD-12 regional director Cezario Joel Espejo said Tuesday the centenarians across the region have been given felicitation signed by President Rodrigo Duterte and cash each worth P 100,000.

Dir. Espejo noted since January this year, the agency has stepped up the implementation of Republic Act No. 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016” in the region. 

Under the law, all Filipinos who have reached the age of 100, whether residing in the country or abroad, shall receive a cash incentive of P100, 000 from the national government as a “centenarian gift”. Qualified elders are also entitled to awards and incentives from their respective city or municipality to be determined by the local government unit (LGU).

“If there are other elders who reach the age of 100, please coordinate with the LGU,” Dir. Espejo said, adding their immediate families can present either a birth certificate, passport, Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs ID, marriage certificate, or any ID that shows the centenarian’s birthday.

The absence of any of these documents, the birth certificate of the centenarian’s children can be presented to establish his or her age. (JBM / DSWD-12)