Makati eyes P10,000 gift for seniors aged 90 to 99

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati city government is planning to give P10,000 in cash gifts to seniors citizens 90 to 99 years old every year, according to Mayor Abigail Binay.

A total of 1,968 nonagenarians will benefit from the program, Binay said during the weekly “Ugnayan sa Barangay” held in Olympia village on Saturday.

She said the recipients should be holders of Blu Card for at least five years.

“We want to add new ways of helping senior citizens who deserved care and compassion from the city government. Providing an additional P10,000 cash benefit yearly for the elderly in the said age group would help defray their daily subsistence and other needs,” Binay said.

She expressed hope that the city council would support the program for nonagenarians so it could be implemented next year.

According to the program, a senior citizen who has been a Blu Card holder for at least five years will receive P10,000 when she reaches the age of 90 and P10,000 every year thereafter until she turns 99.

The mayor said those already in their 90s during the program’s effectivity will receive P10,000 yearly for the remainder of the period before they turn 100.

The city government has been giving out cash gifts to senior citizens: P3,000 for those aged 60 to 69; P4,000 for 70 to 79 years old, and P5,000 for those aged 80 to 89.

Centenarians in Makati are entitled to receive P100,000 cash gift from the local government.

Binay increased the cash incentives given to Blu Card holders following the approval P326.7 million for this year.