The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) in Negros Occidental has distributed P2 million in cash gifts to 20 centenarians in 2023.
Each of them received P100,000 tax-free.
The beneficiaries were from the cities of Cadiz, Kabankalan, Talisay, Sagay, La Carlota, Bago, Silay and San Carlos as well as the municipalities of La Castellana, Ilog, Cauayan, Pontevedra and San Enrique.
PSWDO head Chiqui Gonzales said that an additional 11 centenarians will receive cash gifts this year.
Meanwhile, the city government of Cadiz honored two centenarians and 40 nonagenarians, who also received cash gifts in rites held at the Cadiz Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
Centenarians Estelita Alimpolos of Sitio Cogon, Barangay Sicaba and Cepriana Quinio of Purok Tinapok, Barangay Tinampa-an received P100,000 each.
Also, 95-year-olds Epifania Balbinita of Hacienda Felomina, Barangay Burgos, Caridad Hechanova of Purok Pag-asa, Talabaan, Barangay Zone 1, and Reynaldo Santiago of Crossing Martesan, Barangay Burgos got P50,000 each.
Each of the 37 other nonagenarians aged 90 to 93 years old were given P25,000.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said they released a total of P1.27 million for the cash gifts of their senior citizens who reached the age of 90 to 100 years old.
Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016 mandates the local government units the giving of P100,000 as “centenarian gift” to those whose age hit 100 years.
Escalante said the giving of “centenarian gift” is their highest form of respect to their elders who made it to age 100.
He added that the cash gifts for nonagenarians form part of the local initiative through a city ordinance.
“As soon as our pre-pandemic budget will be restored, we hope by next year, we can also give out cash gifts to our octogenarians aged 85 to 89 years old,” Escalante said. ||
