DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao --- Four centenarians from this town received cash gifts worth P100,000 each
from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The recipients of the cash grant were Bainon A.
Ganial, Talibobo P. Didtag, Zalika M. Hadji Kamid, and Hadji Akil Kanakan who just died recently.
Myrna Hapinat, Social Pension and Disabled specialist
of the DSWD-ARMM, said that under Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of
2016, all Filipinos who live up to 100 years, otherwise known as centenariansare
set to receive a P100,000 “centenarian gift,” among other incentives, as well
as recognition from the government for reaching 100.
Based on the new supplemental guidelines, the
Department, through its concerned field office, shall release the cash grant
and posthumous plaque of recognition to the nearest surviving relative or the
“estate” (one who designates the real or personal property in which one has a
right of interest) of the deceased centenarian.
In order for the awards and grant to be released,
the following requirements must be presented to the City/Municipal Social
Welfare and Development Office and the
head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs for identification and
validation: Senior Citizen’s ID; any Philippine government issued ID which
shows the centenarian’s citizenship and date of birth; death certificate of the
deceased centenarian; affidavit of adjudication of the estate or nearest
surviving relative; and any Philippine government issued ID of the estate or
surviving relatives.
Other alternative documents which can be presented
are: marriage certificate; old school documents; baptismal or confirmation
records; birth certificate of children; or an affidavit executed by at least
two disinterested persons at least 80 years old with personal knowledge of the
centenarian’s actual age or date of birth.
In addition, the supplemental guidelines also
covers centenarians who were abandoned, neglected or unattached and are
currently under the care of a social welfare agency (SWA), a residential care
facility run by the DSWD or the local government unit (LGU), or a non-relative.
Aside from the given documentary requirements,
abandoned, neglected, or unattached centenarians shall undergo assessment using
a General Intake Sheet conducted by the DSWD, in
coordination with the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
before receiving the grant.
For the incentive of deceased centenarians under
the care of SWAs or residential care facilities, any excess amount may be
deposited to the account of the SWA or residential care facility if there is no
nearest living relative or estate claimant.
Meanwhile, for those under the custody of a
non-relative, the DSWD shall release the grant to the centenarian after the
fulfilment of documentary requirements. The LGU shall closely monitor the
management of the incentive.
“The supplemental guidelines provide a better way
of giving assistance to elderly Filipinos, especially to those who were
abandoned and neglected,” Hapinat said.
Mayor Bai Anida Dimaukom was happy for the
centenarians and said she hopes that through the cash incentive, they can help
assist those who cared and are currently caring for the centenarians.
“I am personally amazed because some centenarians
are still very active,” Mayor Dimaukom said. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA– MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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