Luigi wants hefty cash aid for Mandaue centenarians

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing wants centenarians to get additional cash incentives from the city government.

The mayor said he is planning to double the P50,000 cash gift given to 100-year-old residents of the city.

"It seemed more appropriate man gud to be one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) given that it is their celebration of the hundred years of the person's life," Quisumbing said.

The mayor had already written to the City Council last month asking the members to review the existing ordinance.Quisumbing explained that only a few people can reach the age of 100 years old and it is only fitting to give them an amount corresponding to their age.

"We feel that this is something but just right to celebrate a hundred year, (and) it should be one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000)," Quisumbing said.

If the City Council approves the mayor's request, centenarians will receive much more since they will also receive cash gifts from the national government, from the Cebu Provincial Government, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) -7. The Capitol also gives P100,000 to centenarians.

Last year, DSWD-7 recorded about 103 centenarians in Central Visayas-- 64 from Cebu, 35 from Bohol, and 4 from Siquijor.

The granting of cash incentives to centenarians is mandated under Republic Act (RA) 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.Under this act, all Filipinos, who reached 100 years old and above, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad shall be honored with a Letter of Felicitation from the President of the Philippines, congratulating the centenarian for their  longevity and a cash gift in the amount of P100,000. —/FPL (FREEMAN)