MANILA, Philippines -- It will be an early Christmas for more than 40,000 senior citizens of Makati City as they receive cash gifts and bags of goodies from the city government starting Thursday.

Mayor Jejomar Binay said 41,748 elderly citizens who are registered BLU cardholders of Makati may get their P1,000 cash gifts at barangay halls or covered courts on the dates set by the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD).

?Nowadays, the amount might seem minimal, but many of our senior citizens express their gratitude as they appreciate the fact that they are remembered especially during Christmas,? he said.

The release of the cash gift from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. will be held on Nov. 19 ? at Barangays Northside, Kasilawan, Pitogo, San Isidro, La Paz, and San Lorenzo; Nov. 20 ? Sta. Cruz, South Cembo, Bangkal, Palanan, Forbes Park, East Rembo; Nov. 21 ? Tejeros, Singkamas, Guadalupe Nuevo, San Antonio, Bel-Air, Poblacion; Nov. 23 ? Valenzuela, Carmona, Dasmariñas, Cembo, Comembo, Guadalupe Viejo; Nov. 24 ? Olympia, Pinagkaisahan, Magallañes, Pio del Pilar, West Rembo, Southside; and Nov. 25 ? Urdaneta, Pembo, and Rizal.

Only senior citizens whose applications for the BLU card program were filed on or before Oct. 15, 2009, are eligible for the year-end cash gift. BLU cards issued after that date are no longer entitled to the cash gift because of the election ban.

Apart from the cash incentive, BLU cardholders will get a Pamaskong Handog Ticket, which entitles them to a bag of groceries, T-shirts and other items.