Iloilo City seniors get PHP 10,000 aid under centenarians law

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A total of 639 senior citizens in Iloilo City who reached milestone ages received PHP 10,000 each during a payout on Friday, April 10, under Republic Act 11982, or the Expanded Centenarians Act.

The beneficiaries, aged 80, 85, 90, and 95, received the cash incentive to help improve their quality of life.

Four centenarians also received PHP 100,000 each. Three of the centenarians are living and one has died.

Three of the centenarians are from Jaro district and one from La Paz.

The cash gifts for centenarians were delivered to their homes by National Commission of Senior Citizens-Western Visayas Director Ann Rapunzel “Rara” Ganzon.

Emilia Baido, 82, a widow from Arevalo and a mother of eight, said the cash aid would help her purchase maintenance medicines.

“I’m happy because I can buy my medicines,” she said, adding she takes four maintenance drugs for hypertension, high cholesterol, and uric acid, conditions she learned about during a medical consultation in March.

Delfin Punzalan, 80, of Sto. Rosario in City Proper, said the financial aid is timely.

“We are really thankful for this assistance from the government. It will help us buy medicines and food,” said Punzalan, a father of five who underwent surgery for a thoracic aortic aneurysm and now takes maintenance medication.

He said that while his children have families of their own, the assistance helps ease their financial burden.

Ganzon said the regional rollout of payouts began in late March in Bacolod City, followed by Guimaras and Iloilo province.

She said another batch of payouts is expected in May to cover additional eligible seniors.

“I know this is not enough for all the sacrifice and your contributions to the community and your respective families, but I hope that in this time of crisis there is a small amount that could help you,” Ganzon said.

Beyond financial assistance, Ganzon said the agency is strengthening programs focused on elderly health and wellness in partnership with the Department of Health, including initiatives addressing dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and mental health concerns.

“We also have to make sure that their free monthly vaccines and the free medicines from the rural health units or health centers will be given, and they will be given priority. We have received reports that some towns have a shortage of medicines,” she said.

Ganzon said additional initiatives include expanded programs in geriatric care and a partnership with the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter for blood donation drives benefiting senior citizens.

RA 11982, signed into law in 2024, expanded the coverage of the original Centenarians Act by extending cash incentives to senior citizens who reach the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95, in addition to the PHP 100,000 gift for those who turn 100.