BY: MAY GRECIA-RAGO (with reports from LILIBETH FRENCH, PIA)

A P36 million fund is now ready for release to Centenarians.

This was revealed by regional director Rebecca P. Geamala of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI.

“We are happy to share this development as this answers the long wait of our Centenarians,” said Geamala.

The fund will be released before the month of April ends to a total of 360 beneficiaries who were identified in 2016. Each will receive P100,000.

According to Rosario Sanagustin, head of Protective Services Unit, the DSWD Central Office has downloaded the amount to the regional office recently.

Sanagustin said her office is now processing the needed documents for the release of the cash incentives to intended beneficiaries.

As specified in Republic Act 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016”, Honoring Filipinos who have reached the age of one hundred years old whether residing in the Philippines or abroad will receive awards and incentives that include a centenarian gift of P100,000 and a Letter of Felicitation signed by the President from the national government thru DSWD.

Also, the Local Government Units (LGU) is directed to give awards and incentives wherein amount for the cash incentive will be determined by LGUs thru a resolution or ordinance.

Judith Tanate-Barredo, focal person, said DSWD6 has verified and validated the centenarians in Region 6 including Negros Occidental in 2016.

TIME OF RELEASE

Barredo said that the regional office is releasing the amount this month.

Under the law, the release of the awards and incentives is set on the first Sunday of October declared as the National Respect for Centenarians Day (NRCD) which is in line also with the Elderly Filipino Week celebration or during the actual birthday of the centenarian.

However, Barredo said considering the age of the beneficiaries they will release the gift earlier.

To date, out of the 360, some 38 beneficiaries have reportedly died already.

Those who died upon the effectivity of the law will still be given a centenarian gift to be received by the nearest surviving relative or family.

2017 BENEFICIARIES

For 2017, a total of 27 centenarians have been reported by the Local Social Welfare and Development Officers (LSWDOs).

Barredo requested LSWDOs to submit names of those who will be turning 100 years old in 2018 and start preparing the documents required for the availment of the awards and incentives.

Documtents needed are birth certificates or for Overseas Filipino Centenarian their Philippine passports to be able to avail.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED

For non-availability of the primary document, any one (1) of the following IDs may also be accepted:
• Senior Citizens ID card issued by the Head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) indicating the year of birth,
• Other Philippine-government issued identification cards such as LTO –issued driver’s license,
• Social security cards like the GSIS and SSS, PRC license, Philippine Postal ID, COMELEC voter’s ID, showing Filipino citizenship and year of birth as a reference point for the centenarian’s eligibility for the awards and incentives.

Any two (2) of the following secondary documents may also be accepted in the absence of primary IDs:
• Marriage Certificate of the centenarian issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or the Local Civil Registrar
• Birth Certificate of children borne by/of the centenarian issued by the PSA of the local Civil Registrar
• Affidavit executed by two(2) disinterested persons aged 80 years old who have personal knowledge of the centenarian’s date or birth or actual age,
• Old school or Employment records showing date of birth of centenarian
• baptismal and/or Confirmation records of centenarian certified by the parish church and other religious denomination,etc./dswd6