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Filipino Centenarians get Honors, Cash in House Bill

Press Statements

 

FILIPINO CENTENARIANS GET

HONORS, CASH IN HOUSE BILL

 

            “Honoring and rewarding Filipino centenarians is a fitting testimonial to our giving value to life and life-long achievements.”

           This was declared by Minority Leader and Albay Representative Edcel C. Lagman who is the author of House Bill No. 834 or “An Act Honoring and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians, Declaring the 25th of September as National Respect for Centenarians Day and for Other Purposes.”

           The bill was approved unanimously last week by the House Committee on Population and Family Relations.

           Lagman added that “centenarians are role models for aging well and living long, three decades past the current life expectancy of the average Filipino at 71 years.”

           Under the centenarian bill, Filipinos, both in the Philippines and abroad, are entitled to the following benefits:

           1) A cash gift of P100,000.00 on their 100th birthday and a congratulatory letter from the President of the Philippines;

           2) An additional cash reward from the local government unit where they are residing at the option of the LGU concerned;

           3) Posthumous plaques of recognition in honor of all deceased centenarians who died before the effectivity of the law, to be presented to the nearest surviving relative;

           4) Fifty percent (50%) discount and exemption from the value added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of goods and services from all establishments for the exclusive use and enjoyment or availment of centenarians; and

           5) Declaring every 25th of September as “National Respect for Centenarians Day” wherein all Filipinos who have become centenarians during the year shall be awarded plaques of recognition and cash incentives by their respective city or municipal governments in appropriate ceremonies.

           Lagman also said that while we correctly and repeatedly say that “the youth is the hope of the motherland, we seldom acknowledge that elderly citizens, particularly centenarians, are the fulfillment of the motherland.”

           In 2007 there were a total of 7,323 Filipino centenarians, 4,206 of which were females and 3,117 were males.

           The United States has the most number of centenarians estimated at 72,000 while Japan is second with a centenarian population of about 30,000. However, it is estimated that China will actually lead the world population of centenarians by 2050 with over 450,000.