Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
Elderly Filipinos may no longer have to reach 100 years old to get cash gifts from the government after the Senate unanimously approved last week a measure expanding the Centenarians Act of 2016, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. said on Sunday.
“I’m extremely happy and grateful [to my colleagues] for supporting my topmost priority bill,” Revilla said in a statement.
Under Senate Bill No. 2028, which was approved on third and final reading on Sept. 25, elderly individuals will receive P10,000 in cash gift upon reaching the age of 80 and P20,000 for those who turned 90 years old.
Revilla said this was on top of the P100,000 in birthday bonus given to centenarians as mandated by Republic Act No. 10868. Once enacted into law, he said elderly Filipinos would be able to enjoy additional financial benefits from the government without having to wait for several more years.