BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – This city’s Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda joined House legislators and senators in witnessing the signing of Republic Act (RA) No. 11982, or the expanded Centenarians Act, by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday morning.
RA 11982 grants P10,000 cash incentive to Filipinos who reach the age of 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old, and will still receive P100,000 upon reaching 100 years old.
“I am very happy that PBBM signed into law our bill that shows love and appreciation to our lolos and lolas for everything they have done for us and the society. Without their contribution, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” said Baronda, who authored and refiled House Bill 742 in July 2022 that was consolidated into House Bill 7535 and was enacted yesterday.
She added: “We thought that not all of them will still be up and about at 100 years old. Maybe some will have a hard time hearing or remembering or walking or standing. So they cannot enjoy what we want to make them enjoy at 100. That’s why we pushed that the cash incentive be given when they reach 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old. And this is now embodied in RA 11982.”
RA 11982 broadens the scope of the existing Republic Act 10868, also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016 which previously granted Filipino centenarians (those aged 100 years old) a cash gift amounting to P100,000.
“The expansion of the coverage of the Centenarians Act is a homage to the Filipino trait of compassion, and in our culture, none are showered with more kind and loving care than our elderly,” said Marcos in his speech.
Meanwhile, the head of the House committee on senior citizens, Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes of the Senior Citizens Party-list, pointed out that since the national budget for 2024 has already been set aside, money for the new law may come from the General Appropriations Act’s unprogrammed funds.
In order to make it clear if seniors who turned 80, 85, 90, and 95 this year before the new law was enacted would be entitled to receive the monetary present, Ordanes stressed the necessity for the implementing rules and regulations.
Ang Probinsyano Party-list’s Rep. Alfred Delos Santos, one of the bill’s authors in the House, welcomed the legislation’s approval and urged the Philippine Statistics Authority to expedite national ID issuance, especially for seniors, so they can access the cash grant while the elderly database is being established.
The lead implementing agency of RA 11982 is the National Commission of Senior Citizens under the Office of the President./PN
