Makati centenarian residents to get P100K gift

MANILA, Philippines - Senior residents of Makati City,  who are BLU Card holders and who have turned 100 years old this year, will expect to be given a P100,000 cash gift from the city government.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay on Thursday said the Makati City Council recently approved to grant P100,000 cash incentive with an initial appropriation of P2 million.

Binay said this one-time cash gift for resident-centenarians serves as the city’s tribute to them for their significant contributions and role in the history and development of Makati through the years.

“We deeply cherish and value our senior citizens.  We owe them so much for the progress and development that Makati has achieved thus far, and so we continue to think of ways to show our sincere gratitude and great respect for them,” Binay said.

Binay said with the recent enactment of City Ordinance No. 2012-099, senior citizens under the BLU Card program who have reached their 100th birthday within January 1 to December 31, 2012 will be able to avail themselves of the P100,000 cash incentive upon fully complying with the guidelines set by the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD), which implements the BLU Card Program.

Binay added that those who have reached the age of 100 within 2012 but have died afterwards will also be entitled to the cash gift, which will be given to his or her qualified heirs.

Ryan Barcelo, Makati Social Welfare Development officer-in-charge said beneficiaries should meet the following criteria: 1) must be a Filipino citizen; 2) must be a bonafide resident of Makati; 3) must have reached 100 years old on January 1, 2012 until December 31, 2012; and 4) must be a BLU Card and a White Card holder for at least five years.

Barcelo said to date, they have identified at least nine potential recipients of the centenary gift in the following barangays, one each in Comembo, Guadalupe Viejo, Olympia, Dasmariñas, Forbes Park, Kasilawan, and Bangkal, and two in San Lorenzo.

Also, every applicant should be able to submit the following: 1) original copy of birth certificate/marriage certificate; 2) BLU Card; and 3) White Card.

Aside from the P100,000 cash incentive for centenarians, the city government recently increased the bi-annual allowances given to elderly citizens 70-79 years old from P2,000 to P3,000, and for those 80 years old and above, from P3,000 to P4,000. Meanwhile, those between 60-69 years old will still get the regular P2,000, also given in two equal installments.

The BLU Card Program was created in 2002 through the initiative of the former Mayor now Vice President Jejomar C. Binay. Over the years, the program continues to expand and has helped ease the financial burden of senior citizens for their daily subsistence and other needs, including maintenance medicines for various ailments.  It has also helped the bereaved family of deceased BLU card holders through the burial assistance extended to them as part of the program. - Mike Frialde