The bill also grants a cash gift of P25,000 to Filipinos who reach the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95. (INQUIRER.net stock images)
MANILA, Philippines — Good news to 100-year-old Filipino seniors turning a year older — and to their family members: The House of Representatives on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill giving P1 million to seniors turning 101.
If enacted, House Bill (HB) No. 10647 would amend Republic Act No. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016. Under the current law, centenarians are entitled to receive P100,000.
Among the bill’s principal authors are Representatives Rodolfo Ordanes and Francisco Datol Jr. of the party list group Senior Citizens, Lito Atienza of Buhay, Manuel Zamora of Davao de Oro province and Ma. Lourdes Arroyo of Negros Occidental.
The House approved the bill by a vote of 193-0. The 299-member chamber only had one absentee that day, but 105 of the lawmakers present did not take part in the vote.
Although Congress goes on a break today, the measure will be submitted to the Senate a week before the election campaign period begins on Feb. 8.
‘Cash gift’
The session will resume on May 23 and adjourn on June 3, leaving a 12-day window for the possible enactment of HB 10647.
Besides giving P1 million to seniors turning 101, the bill also grants a cash gift of P25,000 to Filipinos who reach the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95.
These birthday celebrators, like those turning 100 and 101, will also receive a “felicitation letter” from the president.
During the first year of implementation, funding for the cash gifts will come from the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and will be coursed through the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
The NCSC chairperson, in consultation with the DSWD, Department of Health, Commission on Overseas Filipinos, and Philippine Statistics Office, is also tasked with establishing the implementing rules and regulations for the amended Centenarians Act.
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