The Senate building at the GSIS Complex in Pasay City. (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2028 and House Bill No. 7535, which seek to grant benefits to Filipino octogenarians and nonagenarians, was approved and ratified by the Senate on Wednesday.
In a plenary session, Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson the chamber’s committee on social justice, welfare and rural development, presented the highlights of the reconciled committee report.
“Section 1 of the reconciled version now reads as follows: All Filipinos residing in the Philippines or abroad, upon reaching the age of 100 years old, receive a cash gift of P100,000 and a Letter of Felicitation from the President of the Philippines congratulating the celebrants for his/her longevity,” said Marcos.
“All Filipinos, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, upon reaching the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95 shall each receive a cash gift of P10,000. The grantees under this section shall be eligible to receive the cash gift within one year after reaching the age of 80, 85, 90, 95 as well as 100,” she added.
Under the present law, only those who reach the age of 100 enjoy the benefit of the P100,000 cash gift.
Later in the session, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva moved to adopt and ratify the bicameral conference committee report.
His motion was accepted by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, having received no objections from all senators present at the hall.