ILOILO CITY (PIA) — Eighty-two elderly beneficiaries from the first district of Iloilo, including one centenarian from Igbaras town, receive their cash gift under the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024 during the inaugural distribution done simultaneously in different areas of the country on February 26, 2025.
During a program in Miag-ao town, National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC)-6 Project Development Officer IV Gretchen Anne T. Orbista said that there are a total of 421 beneficiaries in the city and province of Iloilo qualified for the program, noting that succeeding payouts will also be held in every district.
She added that these senior citizens ages 80, 85, 90, and 95 will receive P10,000, while centenarians maintain their P100,000 benefit.
In an interview, Rosinica Sarjena, 80, thanked the government, noting that she will use the money to buy her maintenance medicines.
“Pasalamat gid ako kay nakabaton ako diyes mil (P10,000). Daad palawigon pa ako para makabaton naman ti sien (P100,000),” Sarjena added.
(I am really thankful for the P10,000. Hopefully, I will have a long life so that I can receive the P100,000)
On the other hand, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in his message streamed live from the Malacañang Palace, emphasized the importance of ensuring the well-being of senior citizens, noting that more needs to be done for the elderly of the country.
“Sa ating mga seniors, nawa’y magkaroon kayo ng marami pang panahon ng kagalakan kasama ang inyong mga minamahal sa buhay. Hiling ko rin na magkaroon po kayo ng mga mas matatamis na kuwento na ibabahagi sa susunod na henerasyon,” the president said.
Other benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act include the five percent to 20 percent discount on various services; five percent discount for utilities like water and electricity consumption up to specified limits; and a 20 percent discount to transportation, medication, healthcare services, and recreational activities, which Marcos believed as some of the solutions to address the financial struggles of senior citizens.
Aside from the distribution of cash incentives, several national government agencies in Iloilo also extended their services to the public, especially the elderly from the towns of Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Igbaras, Tubungan, and San Joaquin.
Among the agencies joining the event were the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), PHILHEALTH, Department of Health (DOH), and the Iloilo Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Offices (IPGENRO).
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also extended security assistance for the event and offered free haircut and medical assistance to the elderly; while staff from the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) Miag-ao campus offered nail care services to the beneficiaries. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)
