QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Officer-in-Charge Dr. Mary Jean P. Loreche, FPSP, on Monday explained that additional incentives are now available for seniors under the Expanded Centenarian Act, which now provides P10,000 for senior citizens who reach a milestone age.
“Meron tayong tinatawag kasi na programa ng gobyerno na naging batas at ito ay nalagdaan ng Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. last year, nitong March 17th 2024, at heto nga pinalawak at pinalawig ‘yong ating tinatawag na centenarian cash gift,” Loreche said during the Impormasyon at Aksyon sa Bagong Pilipinas teleradyo program, adding that under the Expanded Centenarian Act, signed into law on March 17, 2024, seniors aged 80, 85, 90, and 95 will now receive P10,000.
“Sa centenarian kasi dati ‘pag umabot ng 100 years old, tatanggap ikaw ng one hundred thousand pesos. Sa bagong batas, in the expanded centenarian dito sa ating 11982, nakasaad ‘pag ikaw ay dumating sa edad na otsenta, otsentay singko, nobenta, nobentay singko, (80, 85, 90, at tsaka 95,) ikaw po ay tatanggap ng sampung libo,” she added.
However, she said this benefit applies only to those who reach these ages from March 17, 2024, onward. While seniors who were already 80, 85, 90, or 95 before the law took effect are not eligible.
“Subalit ito ay nakalaan at nakasaad March 17, 2024 onwards,” she further said.
Loreche said funding from the Department of Budget and Management for the NCSC is available from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
Seniors who hit milestone ages during this period will receive their benefits, while those who reached these ages between March 17, 2024, and December 31, 2024, will be placed on a waitlist.
“This means that while not everyone will get immediate support, there is a plan in place,” she explained.
“For seniors, the P10,000 may seem small to some, but it can significantly help with daily expenses and medications,” she added.
For more information, here’s the NCSC official website: https://www.ncsc.gov.ph/
Official Facebook page of the NCSC: https://www.facebook.com/NCSC.Philippines.OfficialPage
(JCO/PIA-NCR)
