'Gusto mo magkapera?' PBBM to sign into law cash gifts for Pinoys who would reach 80-95 age
Stay fit and live long, and claim money from the government as a compensation.
This is practically the extra challenge for every Filipino from the national government as President Marcos is expected to sign into law on Monday, Feb. 26, the House and Senate bills that provide cash gifts to octogenarians and nonagenarians.
Under the Senate Bill 2028 and House Bill 7535, which is authored by Senior Citizen party-list Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Ordanes, Filipinos will receive a P10,000 cash gift from the national government when they reach the age of 80.
Additional P10,000 each will be given if Filipinos would live up to 85, 90 and 95, according to the two bills.
The two bills, which are expected to be signed into law by President Marcos, serve as additional compensations under the Republic Act 10868, or the Centenarians Act of 2016, which gives P100,000 for every Filipino who would reach the age of 100.
“I express our sincerest gratitude to President Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez and my fellow lawmakers for this measure. This is but proof that the national government really cares for the welfare of our senior citizens,” said Ordanes.
According to the bills, Ordanes said the National Commission of Senior Citizens, with the assistance from the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government at Philippine Statistics Authority, will be in charge in crafting the implementing rules and regulations once they are signed into law.
Aside from cash gifts, Ordanes said the recipients will also receive a personal letter of felicitation from the President.
“Whatever the amount, this would be a big help to our senior citizens especially for their basic needs and medication,” said Ordanes.
Senior citizens are usually depending on the assistance from their children and relatives for their maintenance medicines and other needs, especially those with no pension.
Ordanes also expressed hope that the law would be implemented in the soonest possible time, including setting aside P2 billion from unprogrammed funds of the national government to finance the implementation.