QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – A total of 1,079 senior citizens across the nation received their cash gifts under the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024 during its inaugural payout on Wednesday, February 26.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the distribution of cash gifts to pay tribute to the country’s elderly in recognition of their lifelong contributions to nation-building.
“Ang bawat linya sa inyong balat at bawat puting buhok ay bahagi ng hibla na naghahabi sa ating kasaysayan,” said President Marcos, highlighting that the senior citizens are not only on the receiving end of this initiative in view of their pivotal role as the country’s guiding light, mentors, and supporters of succeeding generations.
(Every line on your skin and every strand of white hair is a part of the threads that weave our history.)
“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, hangad natin na mabuhay ng may ginhawa at dignidad ang ating mga matatanda (Under the Bagong Pilipinas, we envision a future where the elderly can live their life with comfort and dignity),” he added.
According to President Marcos, the government strongly recognizes the significant challenges confronting the country’s senior citizens as 73 percent of them still rely on their children for support, 55 percent are paying for their healthcare expenses, and many of them continue to suffer from inadequate long-term care.
In response to these challenges, the government remains steadfast in catering to the needs of the Filipino elderly through the implementation of programs and services, such as the Expanded Centenarians Act, to empower them to attain a meaningful and happy life.
One of the program beneficiaries, 85-year-old Leonida Cruz from the municipality of Pateros, expressed her appreciation for the program, noting how the P10,000 cash gift would help address the immediate financial needs of her family.
“Malaking tulong ito sa buhay namin na ngayon lang kami makaranas na makatanggap ng mga benepisyo. Malaking pasasalamat ko sa ating Pangulo sa pagbibigay ng benepisyong katulad nito,” said Cruz.
(This is a huge help to us, as this is the first time we’ve experienced receiving this kind of benefit. I am very grateful to our President for providing benefits like this.)
100-year-old Hiwaga Espinosa Dominguez, who received a P100,000 cash gift, also thanked President Marcos and his administration for implementing the program. She is particularly grateful because the cash gift will help her with her medical needs.
“We are really grateful for this. I appreciate it very much. It is a good boost, (especially because) medicine is expensive,” said Dominguez.
Republic Act 11982, otherwise known as the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024, provided for the extension of financial benefits to more Filipino senior citizens, granting P10,000 cash gift to those who reached the milestone ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95, while maintaining the P100,000 cash gift to centenarians.
The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) is the lead government agency that will oversee the distribution of the P2.9 billion worth of financial assistance to more than 275,000 Filipino senior citizens from January to December 2025.
NCSC officer-in-charge Mary Jean Loreche urged qualified Filipino senior citizens to coordinate with the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) or the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) in their respective local government units to avail of the program.
Upon the submission of application, the NCSC can have the payout scheduled within two to three weeks from the previous 66-day average waiting period. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
