CENTENARIANS in Manila get an added treat, aside from the P100,000 cash incentive mandated by law, since they also get to be visited by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, no less.
Lacuna had been personally delivering to the city’s centenarians their cheques and celebrate with them their 100th birthday.
Aside from the check, Lacuna also hands over to the centenarians a certificate of recognition and they also get a birthday cake.
The first centenarian to have been visited by Lacuna was Elena Pineda de Vibar of Sampaloc, Manila who turned 100 years old last July 5. Next was Asuncion Alix of Sta. Cruz, who celebrated her 100th birthday just this Wednesday, August 24.
Lacuna said the personal visit she pays the city’s centenarians is her simple gesture of appreciation and gratitude to the elderly population who have spent their most productive years contributing to the progress of the city.
She also called on the families of the city’s senior citizens to take good care of their elderly, saying they, too, will get old someday and should set a good example to the younger generation to care for the elder members of their family .
The centenarians receive P100,000 incentive each as mandated by Republic Act (RA) 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016 in honor of their contributions to nation building.
Under the law, aside from the centenarian incentive, Filipinos who have reached 100 years old and above, whether residing in the country or abroad, shall be honored with a Letter of Felicitation from the President of the Philippines congratulating them for their longevity.
In order to avail of the benefits under the law, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) requires relatives of the centenarians to submit primary documents such as birth certificate and Philippine passport to the city or municipal social welfare office and the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in their respective localities.
If the two documents are not available, any one of the following primary Identification Cards is accepted: issued by OSCA, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and Social Security System (SSS); driver’s license; Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) license; and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Voter’s ID. (Baby Cuevas)
