The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance amending further Section 4.2 of Ordinance No. 45, series of 2013 that honors the centenarians of the city as amended by Ordinance No. 53, series of 2016.
Under the proposed amendments, centenarians will be receiving a cash award of PhP100,000 aside from being entitled to receive an additional PhP5,000 to be given as a birthday gift during his or her lifetime which shall commence a year after the centenarian was honored by the city government.
The ordinance claimed that living to a hundred years old is a testament of resilience and fortitude and that respect for the elders and the importance of family are deeply ingrained in the Filipino culture.
Further, it added that the cash award gives additional value to the said respect and impress upon them the gesture of care and concern of the local government for their wellbeing.
Republic Act (RA) 10868 honors and grants additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians and for other purposes where it grants a centenarian cash gift of PhP100,000 to all Filipinos, whether residing in the country or overseas, who reach 100 years old.
Ordinance No. 45, series of 2013 which honors the city’s centenarians granted PhP10,000 cash gift to centenarians who are permanent residents of the city for at least five years up to the time of the awarding.
Subsequently, Ordinance No. 53, series of 2016 which amended Section 4.2 of the aforesaid measure increased the cash award for centenarians to P20,000 and additional PhP5,000 to be given as birthday gift during his or her lifetime and which shall commence a year after the centenarian was honored by the local government.
Based on the data obtained from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, nine centenarians who qualified were recognized by the local government and received their cash award of PhP20,000.
The proposed ordinance was referred to the appropriate committee for study and recommendation for possible approval on second and third and final readings. By Dexter A. See
