100 Thousand Pesos for 100 Yrs. Old Pinoy - Centenarian Act

Pinoys will have more reasons to live beyond 100, as a new bill seeking to provide cash rewards for centenarians moves closer to approval.

At least 8,000 senior citizens aged 100 up are set to receive P100,000 from the government upon the enactment of the Centenarian Act.

The measure, whose versions have both been approved in the Senate and House of Representatives Monday, is now headed toward ratification, the penultimate step of legislation.

This, after Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman moved to expedite the bicameral conference committee's approval of a reconciled version of the measure.

"Living to be a centenarian, or three decades past the life expectancy, is therefore an achievement and a distinction worthy of emulation and public recognition," Lagman, the bill's pricipal author, said.

Lagman said he agreed to Senate amendments on the bill, which will give 75 percent discount on goods and services that centenarians will avail.

The bicameral conference also tasked a National Committee to validate the true birth year of a centenarian before releasing the centenarian gift of P100,000 to the applicant.
 
Aside from the cash gift, the bill also seeks to allow local government units to give additional rewards to centenarians in their area.
 
Once enacted, the Centenarian Act will also extend the same rewards to Filipino centenarians living abroad.

Given the level of development in the country today, Lagman said the average Filipino can expect to live to an average of 71 years.

He said the pursuit of living to be 100 demands immense self-discipline, citing studies which showed that while genetics play a role in longevity, the dominant factor in living long is lifestyle.