Republic Act No. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016 authorizes the provision of incentives to Filipinos who have reached the age of 100 years old and above. Recently, however, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 11982, which led to the Expanded Centenarians Law. This law provides cash incentives for Filipinos who have reached 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old, as well.
In preparation for the Expanded Centenarians Law, DSWD offices have begun profiling senior citizens in their respective areas. One of these is DSWD Region 6, which is getting ready for the implementation of this significant law for Filipino centenarians.
DSWD Regional Office Gears Up for Expanded Centenarians Law
Based on a press release from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), DSWD Region 6 has started the profiling of senior citizens aged 80, 85, 90, and 95 as part of the preparations for Republic Act 11982 or the Expanded Centenarians Law.
DSWD Regional Social Pension Section Head Marien Grace Tamonan stated that their office has coordinated with the Local Government Units (LGUs) for the profiling of beneficiaries.
“May ara kita communication sa LGUs naton that they need to submit sa DSWD sang list of senior citizens sa amo sina nga edad in preparation sa pag-implement sang law (We have a communication with the LGUS that they need to submit to DSWD the list of senior citizens in those age brackets in preparation for the implementation of the law),” Tamonan stated during a press briefing.
Moreover, Tamonan said that they are still waiting for the Implementing Rules and Regulations in order to start the enactment of the law.
Senior Citizens Receive Social Pension
Meanwhile, as of March 19, 2024, more than 75,900 indigent senior citizens in Iloilo province have received their pension through the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program. According to the report of DSWD Region 6, each beneficiary got PHP 6,000, leading to a total of almost PHP 455.5 million for all of them.
It can be recalled that in 2011, the SPISC program started through Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. Later, Republic Act 11916 was enacted — an act that provides for additional assistance of PHP 1,000 to augment the daily needs of indigent senior citizens. Beneficiaries are those who are frail, sickly, or with a disability, with no regular income nor support from family and relatives, and no pension from public or private institutions.
Just like the Centenarian Program, the SPISC program goes in line with the government’s mandate to protect the most vulnerable sectors (e.g. senior citizens) through social protection.
Final Thoughts
Senior citizens comprise a significant portion of the country’s population. Hence, it is very important that the government looks out for them through initiatives like the Centenarians Program and the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program.
To learn more about the SPISC program — and its objectives, target beneficiaries, and benefits — please head to this link.