A total of nine centenarians received P50,000 cash gifts each from Valenzuela City local government on Friday, Nov. 5.


“I send my regards to our dear centenarians at home... Let this cash incentive from your city government help you sustain your needs as you further reach your golden years. You are a part of Valenzuela City’s history and this incentive is our way of saying ‘thank you’ as we celebrate your life here in Valenzuela City,” Mayor Rex Gatchalian said.
This is the second time the centenarians received their cash incentives since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which were claimed by their relatives as they are advised to stay at home for their safety.
Arsenio Ocampo, 103, from Baranggay Coloong, is the oldest living centenarian among the beneficiaries.
His daughter, Yumi Ocampo, said that her father still lives with an active lifestyle and love for food.
“’Yung cash is para pang-maintenance, para sa high blood niya, sa hilo, sa prostate niya at diaper, at sa iba pang mga gusto niyang pagkain at prutas... Mahilig kasi siya sa pagkain (The cash is for his maintenance, high blood pressure, dizziness, prostate, diaper, other foods and fruits that he likes... He loves food),” Ocampo said.
Aside from the cash incentives, they also received food packs from the Alliance of Senior Citizens in Valenzuela.
According to the local government, a qualified centenarian must register to the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) and live in Valenzuela for not less than two years to receive the cash incentives.
They also need to submit an authenticated birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or their Local Civil Registrar, an OSCA or any valid government ID that shows their age and residence.
The distribution of cash incentives is contained in City Ordinance No. 300 or the "Centenarians Ordinance of Valenzuela City" passed in 2016. This is different from the P100,000 incentive from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.