PBBM to lead launch of aid program for ‘super seniors’

 

by: Jerome Paunan 

MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to launch a P2.9-billion nationwide cash gift program for “super seniors,” elderly Filipinos who have reached the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95.

The aid program is being implemented under the Expanded Centenarians Act, which was enacted into law last year.

The inaugural distribution at the Heroes Hall of Malacañan Palace will kick off a broader initiative expected to benefit 275,000 senior citizens across the country this year, significantly expanding the scope of financial assistance previously limited to centenarians.

Under the new law, Filipino citizens ages 80, 85, 90, and 95 will receive P10,000, while centenarians maintain their P100,000 benefit. The program applies to eligible seniors both in the Philippines and abroad.

“This initiative symbolizes our celebration and recognition of the elderly’s invaluable wisdom, experiences, and contributions,” said Dr. Mary Jean P. Loreche, Officer-in-Charge of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).

The expanded program comes as the United Nations projects that older Filipinos aged 60 and above will constitute at least 10 percent of the country’s population between 2025 and 2030, classifying the Philippines as an aging society.

Beyond cash distributions, the NCSC has also launched the Senior Citizens Community Care Center (SC3C) program, offering social interaction, healthcare assistance, and skill-building activities for the elderly.

The commission, led by Loreche alongside Commissioners Ida Yap-Patron, Enriqueta Rodeles, Edwin Espejo, Reymar Mansilungan, and Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, oversees the program’s nationwide implementation.

The Expanded Centenarians Act, which took effect on March 17, 2024, represents a significant shift from the previous policy that only provided benefits to centenarians.

The NCSC, established under Republic Act 11350, is mandated to ensure comprehensive implementation of senior citizen welfare programs.

“This program demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that aging isn’t just about counting years, but about living an active, healthy, and enriching life,” Loreche added. (JCO/PIA-NCR)

Source: https://www.ncsc.gov.ph/post/press-release-ncsc-to-implement-nationwide-cash-gift-distribution-for-expanded-centenarians-act-ben#:~:text=This%20amendment%20ensures%20that%20elderly,circulation%20on%2002%20March%202024.