SENIOR Citizen Party-list Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. says he has thought of a way to enable senior citizens aged 90 or nonagenarians to qualify for a cash gift under the Centenarians Act of 2016.
He said Sunday he will push for an P80,000 cash gift for the senior citizens reaching the age of 80 when his bill is tackled in his committee, the special committee on senior citizens where he is vice chairman.
Datol made his statement even as the Health Department in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) concluded on Friday the first “Senior Citizen’s Health Summit” held in Pasay City with 150 participants in attendance from the provinces in the region.
“Growing old is never a hindrance to leading productive lives and making a difference in society,” said Regional Director Eduardo Janairo.
“Our senior citizens still have much to contribute to help the current generation of Filipinos in their efforts to build a better country.”
Datol authored House Bill 7821 seeking to amend Republic Act 10868 (Centenarians Act of 2016) so that senior citizens who reach the age of 90 could receive a cash gift of P90,000, and another P10,000 when they reach 100.
“Sa amendment na isinusulong ko, mas maraming senior citizens ang makikinabang sa benepisyong hatid ng RA 10868 at sana’y suportahan ito ng mga kasamahan ko sa Kongreso,” Datol said.
He said nonagenarians, like centenarians, should be given proper respect and made to feel equally valued by society.
He also said nonagenarians were comparatively stronger than centenarians and could still fully appreciate the value of the benefit provided in the Centenarians law.
In August, Datol wrote President Rodrigo Duterte asking for the modified implementation of the Centenarians Act as follows: P80,000 would be given to senior citizens reaching 80 years old, P10,000 to those reaching 90 years old, and the remaining P10,000, for those being full-pledged centenarians.
Social Welfare Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo was then tasked by Malacañang to look into Datol’s proposal.