Centenarians get more windfall

The government has earmarked another P186 million for Filipino centenarians, or those who have reached 100 years old and above, in the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024, Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo confirmed Monday.

Rillo, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, which spearheaded the marathon deliberations and passage of House Bill 8980 or the 2024 national budget, assured that Congress is committed to hiking the annual appropriations for the one-time cash grant of seniors.

"A total of 12,186 Filipinos have already received their P100,000 cash award each since the passage of the Centenarian's Law up to September this year," Rillo said.

Over P1.2 billion had already been disbursed by the government, accounting for the 12,186 Filipino centenarians.

The Centenarians Act (RA 10868), enacted in 2016, grants every Filipino who reaches 100 years old, whether living in the Philippines or abroad, a P100,000 tax-free gift from the national government. 

The funds were lodged in the annual budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

Apart from the national government's cash gift, centenarians also receive incentives from their respective local government units and other sources.

Several bills were filed in Congress to amend the law and further expand its coverage.

In May, the House passed a bill seeking to increase from P100,000 to P1 million, the one-time cash gift to Filipinos who reach 101 years old or centenarians. 

The House-approved measure would also grant P25,000 to octogenarians (80 to 85 years old) and nonagenarians (90 and 95 years old). 

In September, the Senate likewise passed a bill aiming to expand the coverage of RA 10868, under which Filipino senior citizens living in the Philippines or overseas will be granted P10,000 upon reaching 80 years old and P20,000 upon reaching 90 years old.

The Congress-approved bills are set to be reconciled by a bicameral conference committee, but no date has been scheduled as of yet.