Expanded Centenarians Act usher in comprehensive benefits for Filipino seniors

A landmark achievement for the elderly population in the Philippines has been realized with the signing of the amendments to the Centenarians Act of 2016, also known as Republic Act No. 11982.

Senior citizens are set to receive cash gifts at various ages as a token of the nation’s gratitude for their contributions to society.

Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes, representing the Senior Citizen Party-list and chair of the House Committee on Seniors, detailed the progress.

“Now that the amendments to the Centenarian’s Act are approved, we shift our focus to funding and implementation,” he stated. He recommended that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) utilize savings or Unprogrammed Funds from the 2024 national budget to support the law’s financial needs.

Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda celebrated the law’s enactment saying, “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.”

Baronda authored and refiled House Bill 742 in July 2022 that was consolidated into House Bill 7535 and was enacted today.

Rep. Elizaldy Co of the AKO BICOL Party-list and chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, called upon the DBM to expedite the funding for the new law to ensure its immediate rollout.

Highlighting the law’s potential impact, REP. JOEL CHUA of Manila’s Third District and Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development spoke about the necessity to update and integrate senior citizens’ databases with national systems for seamless benefits administration.

House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon Party-list emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the issuance of the PhilSys National ID, particularly for seniors, to facilitate the verification process for the cash gifts.

The collaborative efforts of lawmakers and officials herald a new chapter for the senior citizens of the Philippines, promising improved welfare and acknowledgment of their lifelong contributions to the nation.