Implementing rules and regulations for Centenarians Act signed Monday

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo will lead on Monday the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Centenarians Act of 2016.

Under Republic Act 10868, all Filipinos in the Philippines or abroad who reached 100 years old and above will be granted a Centenarian gift of P100,000 cash and a Letter of Feliciation signed by the President.

In addition, all Filipinos who will turn 100 in the current fiscal year will be awarded with a plaque of recognition and a cash incentive by their respective city or municipal governments as part of the annual Elderly Filipino Week.

The first Sunday of October is also declared as the National Respect for Centenarians Day.

The Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas are among the agencies mandated by the law to implement the Centenarians Act.

"The passage of this act is a tribute to Filipino centenarians who have spent their lifetime in contributing to nation building," Taguiwalo said.

"Ang mga nakatatanda ay nararapat na ating paglaanan ng respeto at tunay na malasakit," she added.

Taguiwalo proposed that more efforts should be done to strictly enforce other existing laws that protect senior citizens.

The DSWD chief also appealed to local government units across the country to ensure their welfare desks and departments will give priority to senior citizens.

"One of the signs of a compassionate and humane society is its responsiveness to the needs of its elderly members. There is so much to be done to protect our senior citizens and we do them a great disservice when we do not follow and implement laws and programs that have been crafted and passed precisely to help them," Taguiwalo said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News