Principal authors of the legislative measure proposing to grant P10,000 cash gifts to octogenarians and nonagenarians are confident President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the enrolled bill “in due time.”

Second District Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte and United Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Mila Aquino-Magsaysay said Marcos has demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of the Filipino elderly, thus, is expected to approve the measure.

Villafuerte noted that the chief executive already signed three bills into law this month, leaving the proposed amendment to the Centenarian Act and two others unsigned.

“Many of our elderly are among the underserved sectors of our society whom the President has given importance to in his commitment for high and inclusive growth for the Philippines,” Villafuerte said in a statement sent to Senior Times.

“As he (Marcos) has repeatedly assured our people, nobody will be left behind in his vision for a peaceful and prosperous Philippines, hence my belief that the President will not deny elderly Filipinos the finance relief due them,” the senior administration lawmaker explained.

Villafuerte pointed out that Marcos demonstrated that the welfare of senior citizens “is a top concern” when he signed last October Memorandum Circular No. 34 directing all national government agencies to support the activities of the Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino or the Elderly Filipino Week.

For her part, Magsaysay said she never entertained the thought that Marcos will veto the bill because the “the president is aware of the plight of many senior citizens” who have worked hard to make life better for the current generation.

Congress has ratified the bill that would grant P10,000 cash gift to Filipino senior citizens upon reaching the age of 80, 85, 90 and 95. It is now awaiting the president’s signature.

With Villafuerte and Magsaysay as principal authors, the legislative proposal seeks to amend the Centenarians Act of 2016 that mandates the grant of P100,000 to seniors who reach 100 years old.

Senator Imee Marcos, together with Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko”Pimentel III and Senator Win Gatchalian, authored the Senate version of the bill.

To fully finance the implementation of the measure, government will have to allocate additional P4 billion in its annual budget.

“Not many of our people reach the ripe age of 80 or 90, much less 100, so what better way for the President and the Congress to show our country's appreciation for the invaluable contributions of our grandparents and other seniors to our society during their relatively more productive years than to give them cash windfalls for their collective role in nation-building,” said Villafuerte.