The provision of financial presents from the national government to Filipino citizens who reach the age of 100 is mandated by R.A. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.

Most of the centenarians were cared for by their unmarried daughters, Cruz said.

“Yung mga anak na babae ng centenarians na nag-aalaga sa kanila hindi na rin nag-asawa at focus sa pag-aalaga," she said. 

(The daughters of centenarians who take care of them no longer get married and focus on taking care of them.)

Out of the 139 centenarians, only 25 were men. Cruz added that these men had worked as farm laborers all their lives. 

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, women outlive men in old age.

This year, two centenarians from the town of Milagros in Masbate were the latest recipients of the cash gift in Bicol. 

In addition to the cash gift, Delapera Bacud from Barangay 

Cayabon and Lorencia Morales from Barangay San Antonio also received a letter of felicitation from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to the Municipal Information Office of Milagros. 

The presentation of the cash gifts and the letters of felicitation took place on Wednesday at the Milagros Municipal Hall.

The Ugnayan sa Bicol airs from 9 a.m. to 12 noon from Monday to Friday on dwZR. (PIA5)

(Cover photo credit: Milagros Municipal Information Office/FB)