PROMDI Party presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday called on the Senate leadership to pass its version of the proposed amendments to the law granting cash incentive of P1-million to Filipino citizens who reach a 100 years old.

Pacquiao, who is also the standard bearer of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) said it is imperative that senior citizens and centenarians receive the benefits due them under Republic Act No. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.

The House of Representatives have approved its version on third reading, providing for the release of P25,000 to a senior citizen when he reaches the age of 80, 85, 90 and 95.

“I hope Senate will have time to either fast track final reading approval of the bill or simply adopt the House version when session resumes in May,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao’s call came following an opportunity of meeting 101-year old Aeta grandfather, Jungle Serrano, when he campaigned at the Katutubo Village in Pampanga on Tuesday, March 8.

Serrano, who has six children and 20 grandchildren and great grandchildren, told Pacquiao that he has yet to receive the financial benefits for centenarians because his case is still under verification.

“Sana bigyan ng masusing pagtuon ang mga kaso na katulad ng kay Lolo Jungle. Malaking bagay para sa katulad niya ang cash incentive para sa kanilang (I hope similar cases like the one experienced by Lolo Jungle would also be looked into by the government. Cash incentives are a big deal for them especially for their) medical needs and maintenance medicines,” said Pacquiao.

“Mabuti na lang si Lolo Jungle ay walang karamdaman, ngunit bihira sa mga Pilipinong tulad niya ang may ganitong pangangatawan (It’s a good thing Lolo Jungle has no illness, but it’s very rare for Filipinos like him to have this kind of physique),” he pointed out.

“Gayunpaman, dapat ibigay sa kanya ang insentibo para lamang ma-enjoy niya ang tulong ng pamahalaan habang naririto pa siya sa mundo (Nevertheless, we should give him this incentive so he can enjoy the government’s financial assistance while he is still living),” he said.

Following a press briefing where Serrano approached the senator, Pacquiao immediately directed a senior staff member to follow up the centenarian’s case with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), saying he should be given priority attention.

“Nakikiusap ako sa DSWD na kung maari ay luwagan ang pag-assess sa mga kaso ng ating centenarians na nais makaranas ng tulong ng pamahalaan, Doble po ang dinaranas ng marami sa ating mga lolo at lola na wala man lang maipambili ng gamot para sa kanilang mga karamdaman (I urge the DWSD to make the process of assessment on the case of centenarians as flexible as possible. Our grandfathers and grandmothers experience double the hardship because they have no money to buy medicines especially for their illnesses),” said Pacquiao.

“I was very happy with the time spent with thousands of our IP’s from Aeta communities in Pampanga. Malaking nabawas sa kasiyahang ito nang marinig ko ang problema ni Lolo Jungle (But the happiness was dampened after hearing the problem of Lolo Jungle),” he told members of his campaign staff.