The implementing rules and regulations of the Expanded Centenarians Act will be released before the end of this month, thus, guaranteeing government’s payment of PHP10,000 cash gift for every Filipino senior citizen celebrating milestone birthdays of 80, 85, 90 and 95.

Congress is expected to approve a PHP3 billion allocation for the 2025 implementation of the law.

Under the proposed General Appropriations Act a total P173-million of the amount will be used to grant 1,730 new centenarians their P100,000 birthday gift while the remainder will be allocated as cash gifts for octogenarians and nonagenarians.

Commissioner Rainier Cruz of the National Commission of Senior Citizens disclosed that the IRR of the Expanded Centenarians Act (Republic Act 11981) will be submitted by October 27.

Interviewed at the sidelines of the Talakayan Forum organized by the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines-QC chapter, Cruz said there are proposals that the PHP10,000 gift will be granted to all senior citizens who qualified beneficiaries starting March 17, 2024.

Cruz, a retired military general, said those who will qualify as beneficiaries next year are being guaranteed receipt of their grant with the passage of the 2025 GAA which is expected by December.

The NCSC official encouraged all senior citizens, particularly prospective beneficiaries of RA 11981 to register with the NCSC to help guarantee smooth implementation of the said law.
According to Cruz the NCSC has been working with local government units in the country and is forging ties with the PHilippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Information and Communications to help ensure that the country’s nearly 13 million senior citizens will be able to register online.