- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod is urging the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), through the Office of Mayor Alfredo Benitez, to resume the processing of ladderized benefits for centenarians.
The SP approved Jan. 25 the resolution authored by Councilor Em Legaspi Ang, chairperson of the sanggunian Committee on History, Culture and Arts, who said the assistance is pursuant to City Ordinance 910, or the Ladderized Cash Incentive Centenarian Award Ordinance of Bacolod, passed on Nov. 6, 2019.
Under the ordinance, Bacolod residents 80 to 89 years old will receive P10,000, another P10,000 for those 90 to 99, and the remaining P80,000 will be given to those who will reach 100 years old.
The law aims to make the centenarian incentive ladderized so that the beneficiaries may be able to enjoy the same before they reach the age of 100, Ang said.
She said the P5 million annual allocation of the program “was all used up already last year, leaving other beneficiaries unable to receive such incentive.”
But Ang said the allocation has been included in the 2023 annual budget of Bacolod, so the DSSD, as the implementing agency, may be able to process and disburse such incentive to qualified beneficiaries.
The SP said the implementation must be a priority, as it is necessary to give such incentive benefits to qualified senior citizen residents of Bacolod./CGC
