National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Chairperson Franklin Quijano said the P10,000 cash gift under the expanded coverage of the Centenarians Act will soon be available to those turning 80, 85, 90, or 95 years old between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.

Republic Act (RA) 11982 expands the coverage of RA 10868, or the Centenarians Act of 2016, to include all Filipinos, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad to be a recipient of a one-time cash gift worth P10,000 upon reaching the age of 80 and every five years thereafter, or until the age of 95.

The law was signed by President Marcos last Feb. 26.

“Kung sa taong ito magiging 80, 85, 90, o 95 years old sila, makakatanggap sila [ng P10,000 cash gift] (If they turn 80, 85, 90, or 95 this year, they will receive a cash gift of P10,000),” Quijano said in a televised briefing on Tuesday, March 5.

“Kung hindi man maibigay kaagad ang pera dahil may delay ng [pag-release] ang DBM or may delay ng guidelines, magiging retroactive ito (If the funds cannot be distributed immediately due to a delay in the release of the DBM or in the guidelines, the cash gift will be retroactive),” he added.

Quijano explained since the law will only take effect in 2024, he cited as an example that a person who was 85 years old last year and will be 86 this year will not be eligible for the P10,000 cash incentive.

They will, however, be eligible for the cash gift when they reach the age of 90, and every five years after that.

Quijano said RA 11982, which provides benefits to Filipino octogenarians and nonagenarians, does not require the creation of implementing rules and regulations or IRR.

“Ang gagawin na lang natin ay gagawa tayo ng guidelines para ma-implementa ito (All we have to do is create guidelines to implement it),” Quijano said.

“At syempre inaantay natin ang go-signal ng DBM [Department of Budget and Management] kung kailan ready ang pera. So kung ready na ang pera ng DBM at may guidelines na, maipapamahagi na natin ‘yung suporta sa 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old sa taon na ito na makakatanggap ng P10,000 (We also have to wait for the go-signal from DBM when the money is ready. So if the budget is ready and guidelines are in place, we can already distribute the P10,000 support to those who are 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old this year),” he added.

The amended law only provides a cash gift of P100,000 to those who turn 100 years old.

“In a month [we will be able to finish the guidelines], with the participation of all kasi tinatawag din natin ang support ng lahat ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan (because we are also calling for the support of all government agencies). We will be able to be ready with the guidelines,” Quijano said.

The NCSC chairperson added that the cash reward is a way to motivate seniors to live longer.