Sectors approve amendment of Centenarians Act of 2016

Various groups representing the senior citizen sector expressed their support for the proposed amendment of Sen. Bong Revilla for Republic Act 10868, "An Act Honoring and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians," or the "Centenarians Act of 2016."

During the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development joint with the Committees on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, Finance, Ways and Means chaired by Sen. Bong Revilla Wednesday morning, representatives from various government and private senior citizen groups and organizations agreed to the veteran lawmaker's proposal to divide the distribution of the P 100,000 incentive for any Filipino citizen who will reach the age of 100.

According to Revilla, senior citizens will receive P 25,000 when they reach the age of 80, another P 25,000 upon reaching the age of 90, and the remaining P 50,000 when they reach 100.

Upon hearing the proposal, invited panellists representing the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) from various parts of the country said that Revilla's proposal is timely and appropriate since the number of Filipinos reaching 100 continue to decrease.

Meanwhile, guest panellists also pointed out those who reach 100 no longer appreciate the financial incentive, and let their children or caretakers handle it for them.

"Napakagandang batas po ng Centenarians Act dahil napahahalagahan natin ang ating mga nakatatanda nating kababayan na nangangailangan na ngayon ng pagmamahal at pag-agapay. Mas pag-iibayuhin pa natin ang batas na ito kaya iminumungkahi natin na hatiin ang pagbibigay ng financial incentive sa edad na 80 pa lang para mapakinabangan at ma-enjoy nila ito," Revilla said

CENTENARIAN ACT OF 2016 , APRUBADO NA

Nagpahayag ng suporta ang ilang grupo na kumakatawan sa mga senior citizen para sa proposed amendment ni Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr na Republic Act 10868, o ang “An Act Honoring and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians,” or the “CentenaRIANS Act of 2016.”

        Dumalo sa ginanap na pagdinig ng Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development kasama ang Committees on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, Finance, Ways and Means sa pangunguna ni Revilla at ang representante ng ilang grupo mula sa gobyerno at private senior citizen groups.

        Lahat sila ay sumang-ayon sa proposal ni Revilla na hatiin ang distribution ng P 100,000 incentive para sa Filipino citizen na aabot sa edad na 100.

        Ayon kay Revilla, ang senior citizens ay tatanggap ng P 25,000 pagsapit nila ng edad na 80, at karagdagang P 25,000 , kapag sumapit sila sa edad na 90, at ang natitirang P 50,000 ay ibibigay pagsapit nila ng edad na 100.

Matapos marinig ang paliwanag ni Revilla, ay agad namang sumang-ayon ang mga nagsidalo sa pagdinig mula sa Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) mula sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa dahil sa labis umano itong napapanahon dahil pabawas na nang pabawas ang PInoy na umaabot sa 100.

Idinagdag pa ng mga nagsidalo na kung may mga Pinoy mang umabot sa edad na 100 ay karaniwang hindi na ma-appreciate ang financial incentive at ipinagkakatiwala na lamang sa anak ang dapat gawin sa salapi.

“Napakagandang batas po ng Centenarians Act dahil napahahalagahan natin ang ating mga nakatatanda nating kababayan na nangangailangan na ngayon ng pagmamahal at pag-agapay. Mas pag-iibayuhin pa natin ang batas na ito kaya iminumungkahi natin na hatiin ang pagbibigay ng financial incentive sa edad na 80 pa lang para mapakinabangan at ma-enjoy nila ito,” pagwawakas ni Revilla.