Three hundred forty two centenarians in Region III were among the 2,992 centenarians in the country who benefit from the Centenarian Cash Incentives of P100,000 of the national government.

To date, 220 centenarians in the seven (7) provinces of the region have already received their Centenarian Cash Incentive. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III, in coordination with the concerned local government units (LGUs) led the payout and even used the door to door scheme as mode of payment to some centenarians who could no longer travel, bedridden or in the hospital.

The DSWD Central Office has provided the funding and the payout is continuously being undertaken to reach the 100% payout.

Section 2 of Republic Act 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016” stated, all Filipinos who reach the age of one hundred 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 ₱100,000.

Moreover, 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 LGU concerned.

In the Province of Tarlac, centenarians were awarded P100,000 cash incentives each by virtue of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance No. 001-2016 or the Tarlaqueno Centenarian Ordinance of 2016. The said Ordinance also entitles a centenarian another P25,000 in his/her next birthday/s.

One of the beneficiaries, a survivor of World War II, expressed his thanks to the government. He said that the cash incentive is of great help in his medications and daily food subsistence.

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 (NRCD) in line with the Elderly Filipino Week celebration.

However, considering the age of the centenarians, the DSWD will release 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 of the cash incentive, a centenarian must present his or her birth certificate or Philippine passport for those living overseas. If said documents are not available, the centenarian may present his or her senior citizen’s identification (ID) card or any other Philippine government-issued ID showing his or her citizenship and date of birth. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)