By: May Grecia-Rago

THE DSWD6 released a total of P10.9 million for Centenarians early today.
The amount was released to 109 elderly with age ranging from 100 to 115. Each of them received P100,000.

The payment of the cash award is mandated by Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarian Act, which was passed into law last year.
“Today, we are making another history, another milestone in the field of social work. This is the first time that we are releasing the cash incentives to Centenarians,” said Rebecca P. Geamala, regional director.
Geamala, along with Governor Arthur Defensor, assistant regional directors Delia Bagolcol and Evangeline Felecio, provincial administrator Raul Banias and local chief executives, released the cash award to them.
“This makes us even more happy and proud to be in the social welfare work. We get to touch the lives of people. We get to make a difference. And we will never cease because our passion is to see transformation in the lives of individuals, families and communities whom we serve,” said Geamala.
If broken down, 90 of the Centenarians are from Iloilo while 19 come from Iloilo City.

P36M FUND FOR WV
A P36 million fund was downloaded for Region 6 earlier.
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 other provinces.
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.

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