Senior citizens deserve all the love, care, and protection that is why the government has been working hard to provide for their needs and benefits, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.
“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, hangad natin na mabuhay nang may ginhawa at dignidad ang ating mga matatanda,” President Marcos said during the Inaugural Cash Gift Distribution to the Qualified Beneficiaries of the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024 in Malacañang.
“Mga kababayan, hindi na dapat pinagdadaanan pa ng ating mga senior citizens ang ganitong mga problema sa yugtong ito ng kanilang buhay. They deserve nothing but our love, our care, and our protection,” he added.
The President distributed cash gifts to select senior citizens identified by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC). Similar cash gift distributions occurred nationwide simultaneously, benefiting 1,079 recipients.
The NCSC aims to complete the distribution of cash gifts to 7,759 identified beneficiaries by the end of this month.
On February 26, 2024, President Marcos signed Republic Act No. 11982, or the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024.
Under the law, senior citizens who reach 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old will receive PhP10,000 and the government’s benefit for the centenarians of PhP100,000.
Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, senior citizens are entitled to five to 20 percent discounts on products or services.
These include a five-percent discount on water and electricity, applicable when water usage does not exceed 30 cubic meters, and electricity consumption is limited to 100-kilowatt hours.
According to the President, senior citizens are entitled to a 20-percent discount on transportation, medical services, and leisure activities.
The law offers free medical benefits for seniors in government health facilities.
During the event, the President announced the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, which allows qualified seniors to receive a monthly pension of PhP1,000.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) operates residential care facilities for abandoned senior citizens.
“Nawa’y sa pamamagitan ng mga programa at serbisyong ito ng gobyerno, makapaglaan sila ng mas marami pang panahon para sa kanilang mga minamahal sa buhay,” the President said.
During the event, President Marcos cited a few of the centenarian guests in the audience, some survivors of World War II.
“Hinarap nila ang mga hamon ng kawalan ng kalayaan, kinabukasan, at seguridad,” the President said.
“Marami rin po sa inyo ang ipinanganak at lumaki habang ang bansa natin ay unti-unting naghihilom mula sa mga sugat na dulot ng digmaan. Naging saksi kayo sa tagumpay at pagsisikap ng maraming administrasyon na paunlarin ang ating bayan,” he said.
About 73 percent of senior citizens depend on family support, while they cover 55 percent of their health expenses using their funds.
President Marcos said that many seniors do not receive adequate care and that several have been living alone, feeling useless to their families and the nation. Some even experience abuse, he noted. | PND
