By Perla Lena/Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY — The elderly in this city need not wait to reach the centennial age to avail of cash incentives once the proposed ordinance, granting benefits and privileges to residents celebrating their 90th and 95th birthdays, is approved.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), in its regular session on Tuesday, approved on first reading the proposed ordinance that will grant 90-year-olds with PHP5,000 and PHP10,000 for 95-year-olds.
The money will be given just one-time once the elderly will turn 90 or 95.
“Living for almost a century old is very challenging in this modern time. Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle has become a great endeavor,” said proponent Councilor Lyndon Acap in pushing for the ordinance.
He said that while centenarians are entitled to avail of PHP100,000 from the national government and another PHP10,000 as provided for in the city ordinance, yet the benefits seemed to be “useless”.
“That benefit supposedly is for them to enjoy. So how can they enjoy if they are already bed-ridden and some could not even recognize the money,” he said in a follow-up interview.
He added that giving them the said amount is a way for them to avail of the cash incentives without waiting to become centenarians.
He recalled that the late councilor Armand Parcon passed an ordinance two years ago increasing the PHP10,000 incentive to centenarians to PHP50,000 but it was vetoed because it might affect the delivery of other services.
Acap said that the city is progressing and senior citizens also need little support.
Once passed, the qualified senior citizen has to submit the same requirements when thy process for the national incentive.
Added to those, they have to be residents of this city for at least five years.
As of 2018, Iloilo City 59,293 registered senior citizens.
The proposed ordinance is now with the committees on appropriations and the elderly for appropriate action.
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