San Juan ordinance gives cash gifts to elderly younger than a hundred

San Juan City has started distributing cash to senior citizens who are younger than 100 years.

According to Cedrick Castillo's report on "24 Oras", the local government unit recently passed an ordinance approving additional cash grants for the elderly in the city.

Individuals aged 70 years old received P3,000; for those who are at 80, P5,000; and for those who are 90, P8,000.

Republic Act 10868 or the “Centenarians Act” entitles all Filipinos who reach 100 years old whether living in the country or abroad to a “centenarian gift” worth P100,000 and a letter of felicitation from the President.

“‘Pag inabot ka na ng 100 at saka ka lang magkakaroon. ‘Pag 100, bangenge ka na. Hindi ka na makakilala, pag-aagawan pa ng pamilya mo ‘yung P100,000,” San Juan City Councilor Rolando Bernardo said.

(When you reach 100 years old that’s the time that you will be given a cash grant. But at that age... you can no longer recognize people, and your family might fight over the money.)

The LGU will also set aside cash grants for centenarians apart from the incentive mandated by the law.

“’Yung P50,000 galing yan sa local government. Hiwalay yung P100,000 naman from the national government,” San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said.

(The P50,000 is from the LGU while the P100,000 is from the national government.)

The beneficiaries, for their part, were thankful for the financial grant.

“Nagmahal ang bilihin. Bayarin. Pati gamot namin. Mahal na gamot namin. Doktor mahal na rin,” Juanito Terrencio said.

(Everything is already pricey. Even our medicines and doctor consultations.) —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News