THE local government of Zamboanga City announced Tuesday, December 15, 2020, that 10 centenarians received P50,000 each or a total of P.5 million cash incentives provided under City Ordinance 459.
Socorro Rojas, City Social Welfare and Development Office chief, said the grant of cash incentives is part of the local government’s unrelenting support to senior citizens in Zamboanga City.
Rojas said the amount is the City Government’s counterpart to the incentives granted by the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The P50,000 is the local government’s cash incentive based on Ordinance 459, giving due recognition and reward to city residents aged 100 years and above as part of the city's effort to support senior citizens.
Republic Act 10868 otherwise known as Centenarians Act of 2016 grants a cash gift of P100,000 and Letter of Felicitation to Filipinos, who reach 100 years old.
Rojas said the oldest recipient of the P50,000 cash gift released Monday is Jamilan Waja, 102 years old, of Talon-Talon village.
The other recipients are all 100 years old and are as follows: Maria Pescador, San Jose Gusu; Anita Yu-Asensi, Canelar; Vincent Lledo, Talisayan; Kamaluddin Gumbahali, Calarian; Lourdes Rebollos, Guiwan; Jacoba Galvez, Guiwan; Eufrocina Sibuyan, La Paz; Nora Bulagas, Calarian; and Alipio Gobaton Sr., Tetuan.
Rojas said the distribution of cash incentives was spearheaded by her office assisted by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs.
She said the grant of the cash privilege is only one of the programs for senior citizens that debuted under the administration of Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.
The others include the Largo Vida (Long Life) program, which involves the daily delivery of maintenance medicines, birthday cash incentives and free movie screening, among others. (SunStar Zamboanga)