DAGUPAN CITY — A total of 528 centenarians in Region 1 are all eligible to receive a PHP100,000 cash gift each from the government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) .
Iryn Cubangbang, DSWD regional information officer, said during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) forum here Thursday, that almost half of the region’s centenarians or 207 are from the province of Pangasinan. Of the number, 152 have already received their PHP100,000 cash incentive.
Cubangbang noted that there are more female centenarians in the region than males.
However, the oldest centenarian from Region 1 is 114 years old and a male. Cubangbang did not identify him.
Under Republic Act No. 10868, centenarians would receive a cash gift of PHP100,000 from the government through the DSWD, plus a letter of commendation from the President of the Philippines, she said.
Under the law, living centenarians should submit proof of having reached the centenary age by submitting their birth certificates if any or any document, including voter’s identification card showing their age.
The benefit can also be availed of by relatives of centenarians who died after June 20, 2016 or after RA 10868 was signed into law by submitting to DSWD a duly issued death certificate of their kin.
Cubangbang said centenarians actually receive more than this amount because Local Government Units (LGUs) usually provide them other cash incentives.
She said the centenarians in the region revealed a common experience of being physically active during their younger years, and recognize this as one of their secrets of long life.
All said they live a happy life and confess to being fond of eating vegetables and fruits, especially bananas, and consume less meat.
At the same time, Cubangbang revealed that there are over 132,000 social pensioners in Region 1, receiving quarterly old age pension of PHP1,500 or PHP6,000 yearly. These pensioners are aged 70 years and above and are poor. Half of them are from Pangasinan. (Leonardo Micua/PNA)
