In pursuit of providing additional benefits to Filipino centenarians or Filipinos reaching 100+ years of age, the House of Representatives in the third and final reading, approved the House Bill 10647, or the proposed amendments to the Centenarians Act of 2016, January 31, 2022.
With a vote of 193 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstention during the recently concluded plenary session, the chamber approved House Bill 10647, an amendment to the current RA 10868 or the Centenarians Act 2016.
Under the said House Bill, the proposal grants a cash gift worth P1 million on the Filipinos reaching their centenarian or those who reach the age of 101 years old plus a felicitation letter from the President.
Prior to the approval of HB 10647, Filipino citizens reaching 100 years of age received a current amount of Php 100,000.
According to Bukidnon Representative Manuel Zubiri, one of the authors of the bill, there are only a few Filipinos who live up to age; thus, only a few get to enjoy the benefits of the law.
He also said that even the octogenarians and nonagenarians would benefit from the approved House Bill.
"To provide our beloved senior citizens the motivation to live longer, as well as to aid them the means to purchase medicines and other necessities, this bill seeks to expand the coverage of Republic Act No. 10868 to include those Filipinos who have reached the age of 80 and 90 years old," Zubiri said.
As per the bill, all Filipinos who reach the age of 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old shall receive an amount of Php 25,000 and a letter of felicitation from the President.
The bill also stated that the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) will be the leading implementing agency while its funding shall come from the annual General Appropriations Act.
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