Capitol clarifies: Only P50T, not P100T for centenarians
The Office of the Vice Governor has clarified that only P50,000 is given by the Provincial Government to centenarians, following posts on Facebook that some Capitol officials have pocketed the other P50,000 when the law stipulates P100,000 gift for each centenarian.
A copy of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Resolution No. 1081-2017 obtained by The FREEMAN shows that the cash incentive per centenarian has increased from P20,000 to P50,000.
The resolution authored by Provincial Board Member Christopher Baricuatro was passed on April 10, 2017 and was approved by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale on April 19, 2017.
The Provincial Government has been implementing interventions for the senior citizens (ages 60 and up) in the province who number at approximately 239,688 based on the 2016 census report of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
One of the Province’s interventions is the Centenarian Program that is implemented in support of Republic Act No. 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016 honoring and granting additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians.
The Province of Cebu has been rewarding each centenarian with P20,000 cash for the past several years.
Considering the basic and medical needs of the recipients and the increasing prices of medicines and basic commodities, the incentive was increased to P50,000 this year.
Section 2 of RA No. 10868 provides 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 gift in the amount of P100,000 of which fund is sourced from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.