Centenarian grandma dies without receiving gov't cash gift

A centenarian grandmother’s wish to receive her P100,000 cash gift from the government, as mandated in the Centenarians Act of 2016, remained unfulfilled after she passed away days before her 101st birthday.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” the family of Lola Eugenia earlier found out that her centenarian gift would soon be released after a year's delay.

It was too late, however, as Lola Eugenia passed away on September 12 and was laid to rest on Thursday, her 101st birthday.

“Masakit po. Matagal na inintay kaso hindi nakaabot. Kung ‘yun ay nabigay agad noon bago pa siya mag 100, napakinabanggan na po,” Gliceria Gertes said.

(It hurts. She waited for it for a long time. If it was given before she turned 100, she could have made use of it.)

Gertes said she wished the cash gift would be given to centenarians before their 100th birthday.

“‘Yun lang naman po ang kailangan nila, ang mapasaya sila. Sana po ay ‘wag na po mangyari yung kagaya ng nangyari dito sa amin,” she said.

(That is what’s important, for them to be happy. I hope what happened to us will not happen to anyone else.)

According to Gertes, the family already applied to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the cash gift months before Lola Eugenia turned 100 in 2020.

“Na-process na, okay na daw po. Maghintay na lang po dahil sa pandemic kaya daw po nagtatagal,” she said.

(It had been processed, everything was okay. They asked us to wait as there was a delay due to the pandemic.)

The family kept following up on the request in June. When they received no answer, they sought help from lawyer Romulo Macalintal, a senior citizens’ rights advocate.

“Natanggap talaga nila ‘yung application ni lola. Kaya lang, walang pondo,” Macalintal said.

(They received lola's application, but there were no funds available.)

Despite the sad news, the family said Lola Eugenia was happy when she found that someone was helping expedite matters as her 101st birthday was nearing.

On Saturday, the DSWD said the immediate family of Lola Eugenia will still receive the P100,00 cash gift, as mandated in the Centenarians Act of 2016. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News