A beneficiary of the Expanded Centenarian Act receives a cash gift worth P10,000 from the National Commission of Senior Citizens during the Inaugural cash gift distribution in Tuburan, Cebu. (MSH/PIA 7 Cebu)
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC) Region 7 urged the Offices for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in local government units to submit applications of their members so they can benefit from the program of the Expanded Centenarian Act.
Republic Act No. 11982 or the Expanded Centenarian Act provides recognition and cash gifts to Filipino senior citizens who reach milestone ages of 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100.
NCSC Cluster 4 officer-in-charge Jocelyn Tabotabo encouraged the OSCA in Central Visayas to comply with the necessary documents of eligible senior citizens to avail of the cash gift.
“For those municipalities nga wala pa maka-submit (that haven’t submitted yet), we are encouraging them to submit the documents to our office so that we can schedule the payouts for them,” she said during the recent inaugural cash gift distribution press conference in Tuburan, Cebu.
Tabotabo also reminded OSCA that there is a set deadline for submission of the requirements.
“Naa gyud ta’y gi-set nga deadline like for example, January to May, dapat ma-submit na sila within March kay para ma-request ang atoang kwarta,” she said.
(We actually have a set deadline like for example, January to May, they should submit within March so that we can request the money.)
Tabotabo said that for senior citizens who face challenges in providing the required documents, they are allowed to comply up to one year.
“After one year, kung hindi maka-comply (if they cannot comply), the money will be returned to the National Treasury,” she said.
However, she emphasized that centenarians have three years to claim their benefits.
Tabotabo clarified that a senior citizen must celebrate their birthday before the cash gift distribution is done.
“Dapat ang senior citizen before mabayaran, mag-birthday na kay kung mamatay na sya before the birthday, di nato mahatagan sa gift,” she said.
(The senior citizen must have a birthday before being paid because if a senior citizen passes away before their birthday, they will not be eligible for the cash gift.)
Tabotabo emphasized to senior citizens who are unable to personally go to the OSCA office that their children or caregivers may apply on their behalf.
Claim Process
To claim the benefits, applicants must submit their completed application forms to their respective OSCA or Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO).
Required documents include:
- A duly accomplished application form (available on the NCSC website and at OSCA/LSWDO offices)
- A PSA-issued Birth Certificate or photocopy of a National ID (original ID must be presented)
- A recent 2×2 ID picture and a full-body photo of the applicant on A4 size bond paper.
Once the applications are reviewed for completeness, the local government unit (LGU) will endorse the list of applicants to the NCSC regional office.
The NCSC regional office will then assess and validate the documents before sending the final list to the NCSC central office for approval.
Beneficiaries who are eligible for the cash gift will need to bring their original and photocopy of their OSCA ID or any valid government-issued ID during the payout distribution.
Centenarians are entitled to a P100,000 cash gift and a congratulatory letter from the President upon turning 100 years old, while octogenarians (80 and 85 years old) and nonagenarians (90 and 95 years old) are eligible for P10,000 each.
This program is available to Filipino senior citizens residing both in the Philippines and abroad, with verification from their respective LGUs and OSCA. (MSH/PIA 7 Cebu)
