Longevity pays: 584 centenarians in Region 1 get P100K each
President Rodrigo Duterte chats with 108-year-old Lourdes Marquez during the presentation of the signed implementing rules and regulations of the Centenarian Act of 2016 at Malacañang on September 27, 2016 . The law honors and provides incentives, including a P100,000 cash gift, for Filipino centenarians. KRIZJOHN ROSALES
DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – It must be the saluyot, or the betel nut they like to chew: Region 1, the Ilocos Region, has possibly the highest number of centenarians in the country, with 584 confirmed as of the latest count.
Each centenarian is entitled to a cash gift of P100,000 under Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.
Among the 584 is a 114-year-old man from Sison, Pangasinan. The oldest centenarian in Region 1 is identified only by his first name as Filomeno. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) declined to give other detail about his identity and of the others for security reasons.
In Ilocos Norte, the oldest centenarian is a 113-year-old woman from Piddig. There are two centenarians in Ilocos Sur – both 109 – a woman in Magsingal and a man in Quirino.
In La Union, the oldest centenarian is a 113-year-old man from Naguilian.
The DSWD gets its information about the centenarians from a list submitted by local government units. The DSWD validates the list before processing the P100,000 cash gift.
Based on DSWD data gathered by The STAR, the identified beneficiaries numbered 215 in Pangasinan, 136 in Ilocos Sur, 133 in Ilocos Norte and 100 in La Union.
Ninety eight of the centenarians had already received their centenarian gift while 104 are for pay-out. The rest are being documented and validated, Iryn Cubangbang, information officer of DSWD Region 1, said.
The first Sunday of October is declared as National Respect for Centenarians Day during which, all Filipinos who have turned centenarian in the current fiscal year shall be awarded a plaque of recognition and a cash incentive by their respective city or municipal governments in appropriate ceremonies. The annual Elderly Filipino Week is from October 1 to 7.
Cubangbang said local government units may give separate extra cash incentives to centenarians in their respective areas.
Centenarian beneficiaries in Pangasinan were from Agno, Alaminos City, Alcala, Anda, Asingan, Bani, Balungao, Bayambang, Binalonan, Bolinao, Bugallon, Calasiao, Dagupan City, Dasol, Labrador, Lingayen, Mabini, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Natividad, Pozzorubio, Rosales, San Carlos City, San Fabian, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Sison, Sta. Barbara, Umingan, Urbiztondo and Villasis.
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