BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development recently awarded P100,000 to a centenarian in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.
CENTENARIAN Maria Salahog-Alegre (seated) receives a P100,000 cash incentive from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at her residence in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental. (Photo courtesy of E.B. Magalona PIO)
Maria Salahog-Alegre, who turned 100 last February 9, received the cash award and a Letter of Felicitation from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at her residence.
The incentive was pursuant to Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.
Alegre was married at the age of 16 to Melquiades Alegre, a member of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) – a military formation active from 1941 to 1946.
She was widowed a year later when her husband died in World War II. They had no children.
Alegre is now being taken care of by her niece, Cecilma Salahog, who lives with her.
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Emy Lyn Hibionada said that Alegre is an inspiring testament to resilience and longevity at 100-years-old.
Salahog told the DSWD during assessment that they will set aside a portion of the incentive for Alegre’s memorial plan.
With Hibionada during the turnover of the incentive were DSWD-Western Visayas project development officer and centenarian focal person Doyien Layson, DSWD-Western Visayas special disbursing officer Maria Eloisa Gracia, barangay captain Rolando Banasig, and town Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) president Wellie Gervacio who also heads the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).
Hibionada said that Alegre is also set to receive another P100,000 cash incentive from the provincial government.