'How to spread sunshine': Official hopes funds available for add'l centenarian benefits

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt=" Indigent senior citizens line up to receive social pension from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Quezon City Hall, July 10, 2017. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tvpatrol/09/06/20170710-senior-citizen-pension-md-5.jpg"/><figcaption>Indigent senior citizens line up to receive social pension from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Quezon City Hall, July 10, 2017. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File </em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA — The National Commission of Senior Citizens on Thursday said it hoped funding would be enough for a measure which seeks to increase to P1 million the cash gift for Filipinos who reach 101 years old. </p><p>Lawyer Franklin Quijano, chairperson of the commission, said there were &quot;more than 2,600&quot; centenarians this year and 1,538 Filipinos reached the age of 101 this 2023.</p><p>If the law is approved to raise the cash gift from the current P100,000, government must allot around P1.5 billion this year alone for those who would reach 101 years old, Quijano noted. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/23/house-approves-additional-benefits-for-centenarians">House approves additional benefits for centenarians, including P1M on 101st birthday</a></li></ul><p>This was why &quot;there is so much budget&quot; involved in the proposed law, he said. </p><p>&quot;Kung sa next year yan, dadami pa yung mag-101 kasi yung 100 years old, God-willing, mapaabot mo sa 101, naku, magiging 2,000 [or] more &#x27;yung nasa 101 years old,&quot; Quijano said in a public briefing. </p><p>&quot;Ang isang tanong ng mga senior citizens lalong-lalo na ang 102 papuntang 105... how will we spread the sunshine?&quot; he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/06/22/dswd-seeks-more-more-funds-for-seniors-centenarians">DSWD seeks more funds for seniors, centenarians amid budget cut</a></li></ul><p>The proposed law also provides that all Filipinos who reach the age of 80, 85 (octogenarians); and 90 and 95 years (nonagenarians) shall receive a letter of felicitation from the President and a cash gift of P25,000 each.</p><p>This would require a budget of around P13 billion, Quijano said. He said he was leaving the decision to lawmakers and other agencies involved in the proposed measure. </p><p>&quot;So if the requirement is P13 billion, medyo sabi nila makakaya. It&#x27;s really a choice that is going to be made by this government,&quot; Quijano said. </p><p>&quot;Una, konsultahin natin ang [Department of Budget and Management], Department of Finance, and Bureau of Treasury kung makakaya ba itong P13 billion for [those aged] 80, 85, 90, 95 and about P2 billion for the 101 years old.&quot;<br/> </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2612122" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The National Commission of Senior Citizens hopes funding would be enough for a measure which seeks to increase the cash gift for centenarians. 

'How to spread sunshine': Official hopes funds available for add'l centenarian benefits | ABS-CBN

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'How to spread sunshine': Official hopes funds available for add'l centenarian benefits

'How to spread sunshine': Official hopes funds available for add'l centenarian benefits

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 11, 2023 02:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Centenarians

101 years old

cash gift 100 years old

National Commission of Senior Citizens.

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