Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., on Wednesday, December 18 urged the National Commission of Senior citizens (NCSC) to fully implement the Expanded Centenarian Law or Republic Act 11982 in January 2025.
Revilla warned the NCSC it will face the ire of the country’s senior citizens and centenarians should they fail to do so.
The senator pointed out there are almost 200,000 centenarians in the country who have been waiting to receive their benefits from the government since it was signed into law in March 2024.
“Huwag magkakamali ang NCSC na hindi ito agarang ipatupad. Hindi naman nila siguro idi-disappoint ang ating mga lolo at lola na inaabangan na ito since last March (NCSC shouldn’t make the mistake of neglecting its implementation. I hope they won’t disappoint our grandfathers and grandmothers who have been waiting for this since last March),” said Revilla, author and proponent of the measure in the Senate.
“Sigurado naman akong ayaw nilang harapin ang galit ng ating mga nakakatanda (I’m pretty sure they do not want to face the ire of our senior citizens),” the solon added.
The Expanded Centenarians Act grants cash gifts to senior citizens who will receive 10,000 pesos each upon reaching the ages of 80, 85, 90 and 95; while the centenarians or those who will reach 100 years old upon the effectivity of the law will continue to receive a one-time cash gift of 100,000 pesos.
Revilla said he made sure that there is sufficient funds for the implementation of the law under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“Now it’s in the hands of the NCSC to fully implement it and ensure that no lolo and lola will be left behind”, Revilla remarked.
“Wala silang dahilan para hindi ito maipatupad (They have no reason not to implement the law),” he said.
“There are almost 200,000 senior citizens who stand to benefit under the law. We, thus, call on the NCSC to fulfill their obligations in ensuring that payouts are already ready and rolled out starting January 2025. They have already been given enough time and funding,” Revilla reiterated.