DAVAO City (DSWD XI) – “We recently completed awarding of cash gift to 13 qualified centenarians in the region,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) focal for older persons Arris P. Medrano announced during an interview.

He said the centenarians who qualified for the first semester come from the provinces of Davao Del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Compostela Valley, and Davao Del Norte, and from the city of Davao.

Earlier, validation of the centenarians with ages ranging from 100 to 103, was conducted by DSWD staffs to verify the documents submitted such as birth certificate or Philippine passport, senior citizen identification card or any other Philippine government-issued ID which shows age and citizenship.

Other alternative and acceptable documents to prove the claim include marriage certificate, old school documents, baptismal or confirmation records, birth certificate of children, or an affidavit executed by at least two (2) disinterested persons at least 80 years old with personal knowledge of the centenarian’s actual age or birth date.

Republic Act 10868 or An  Act Honoring and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians, and for Other Purposes also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016, grants all Filipinos who reach the age of 100, whether residing in the country or abroad, a cash award of Php 100,000.00 as a “centenarian gift.”

Aside from the cash, they will also receive a Letter of Felicitation signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and a posthumous Plaque of Recognition for deceased centenarians who died upon the effectivity of the Act.

Centenarians are also entitled to awards and incentives from their respective city or municipality to be determined by the local government unit.

President Duterte signed the Act into law on June 23, 2016.  (DSWD)