Seniors in Talisay will now get incentives

Senior citizens in Talisay City who are celebrating their birthdays are entitled to receive a P500 yearly cash gift on the day of their birthday.

More than 500 senior citizens of the city received their birthday cash gift in a simple gathering at the People's Hall recently.

Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said he already ordered City Social Welfare Officer Felipa Solana to accommodate senior citizens who would claim their “birthday gifts.”

"Ang nahitabo, ma-delay ang ilang birthday cash gift, unya nahuman na ilang birthday. Atong i-improve ang system nga on the day of their birthday nga ilang makuha ilang cash gift didto sa City Social Welfare Office," De los Reyes said.

Solana already prepared “authentic” birthday coupons for each senior citizen who will be celebrating his or her birthday on a particular day.

The coupon bears a specific number, which corresponds to a number in the DSWD's master list of duly recognized senior citizens with their addresses and contact numbers.

But in the event that the celebrant is unable to personally receive his or her cash gift, he or she may claim it at any designated day, Solana explained.

Meanwhile, De los Reyes is supporting the move of City Councilors Socrates Fernandez and Danilo Caballero to recognize and give awards to senior citizens living in the city who have already reached the age of 100 or more.

If the ordinance will be approved, it will "confer the centenary senior citizens’ awards to qualified residents every October of the year."

Based on the 2010 estimate of the National Statistics Office, there are 8,000 Filipino centenarians nationwide or about nine Filipino centenarians in every 100,000 people.

Under the ordinance, the qualified centenary senior citizen must show legal documents such as birth certificate or baptismal showing that he or she has lived for at least a century.

A certification from the barangay captain must be issued as proof of residence, along with a brief story of the life of the centenary senior citizen to whom the recognition and honor is to be conferred.

The draft ordinance seeks to provide benefits and privileges to all Filipino residents of Talisay City who reach the age of 100, such as cash reward of P50,000 or P100,000 on their 100th birthday.

The local government of Talisay City took inspiration from Cebu City in giving incentives or financial assistance to senior citizens.

Giving incentives to senior citizens is also done by the Lapu-Lapu City government.