The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday, Sept. 5 reiterated the requirements that centenarians or their families must fulfill to receive the P100,000 cash gift provided under Republic Act (RA) 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao provided a detailed explanation of the requirements during a media forum on Thursday.
“If the family of the centenarian is processing the claim for the centenarian’s gift, the requirements are a birth certificate or Philippine passport. If these documents are not available, or if the birth certificate cannot be produced due to wartime conditions, an affidavit executed by at least two disinterested persons can be submitted. Alternatively, a marriage certificate or the birth certificates of the centenarian’s children may also be accepted if available,” Dumlao explained in Filipino.
The documents must be submitted to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office or the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in their respective local government units.
If the birth certificate or Philippine passport is not available, any of the following primary identification cards are also accepted—those issued by OSCA, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), a driver’s license; Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) license, or Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Voter’s ID.
Secondary documents, such as school or employment records showing the centenarian’s date of birth may also be submitted in the absence of the primary documentary requirements.
In the case of a deceased centenarian, Dumlao pointed out that the DSWD will still release the cash gift to the estate or the nearest surviving relative.
“The next of kin may receive the centenarian's gift if the centenarian turned 100 but did not receive the gift before passing away,” she added.
Dumlao also announced that the Centenarians Act, currently administered by the DSWD, will be transferred to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
The transfer will include the implementation of the Expanded Centenarians Act, which provides benefits for senior citizens reaching the age milestones of 80, 85, 90, and 95.
“Currently, the funds for this are managed by the DSWD, but starting next year, they will be transferred to the NCSC,” Dumlao said.
RA 10868 provides that all Filipinos who reached 100 years old and above, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, will be honored with a Letter of Felicitation from the President of the Philippines, congratulating them on their longevity, and receive a centenarian gift of P100,000.