The Makati City government announced on Monday, June 16, the passing of an ordinance granting an additional P1,000 in the cash incentive given by the city government to registered senior citizens of the city effective this July.

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay inked City Ordinance No. 2025-104, setting the adjusted rates of the total cash gift to be received in two equal installments by every active member of the city's Blu Card Program and senior citizen who is a Makatizen Card holder: P4,000 for ages 60–69, P5,000 for 70–79, P6,000 for 80–89, P11,000 for 90–99, and P12,000 for ages 101 and above. 

Aside from this, senior citizens who will celebrate their 100th birthday will continue to receive P100,000 and a plaque of recognition from the city government. 

“We are happy to inform our beloved senior Makatizens that they will be receiving a bigger mid-year cash gift this July, and again in December for their year-end cash gift. We hope they could use the money for essential needs, especially with the rising cost of goods,” Binay said.

The city government said that in order for those under the 90 to over 100 years old age bracket to receive their incentives, they must first be a Blu Card holder for at least five years and be certified by the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD). Otherwise, he or she shall only be entitled to P6,000, the same as those aged 80 to 89.

To be eligible for the cash incentive, senior citizens must be Makati residents and voters for two years, and hold a valid Blu Card or a Makatizen Card. Transferees, including former EMBO residents who now reside in Makati, must wait for two years after re-establishing residency to qualify for the incentive, the city government said.

The ordinance also contains new sections providing guidelines on granting the incentive to newly qualified senior citizens and to those who pass away in a given year.

Under Section 3 of the ordinance, newly qualified senior citizens registered between January to March 31 of each year will be eligible for both mid-year and year-end cash incentives. Those registered between April 1 to September 30 will receive only the year-end cash gift, while those registered between October 1 to December 3 will not be eligible for either.

Under Section 4, senior citizens who pass away between January 1 and March 31 will not be eligible for both mid-year and year-end incentives. For those who will die between April 1 and September 30, only the midyear incentive will be granted, while those who die between October 1 and December 31 will be eligible for both the midyear as well as year-end incentives.

In 2019, Binay approved City Ordinance No. 2019-A-023, which provides a P10,000 annual cash gift to Blu Card holders 90 to 99 years old, also in two tranches. 

“It is our way of acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the community and the city as a whole. Gusto kong masabi ng mga seniors na masarap tumanda sa Makati (I want our seniors to say and feel that it's good to grow old in Makati), the mayor said.