P3.44 billion set for cash gifts to octogenarians, nonagenarians

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – The government has allocated P3.44 billion to fund the P10,000 cash gifts for octogenarians and nonagenarians and the P100,000 cash gifts for centenarians in 2027, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said yesterday.

“The P3.44-billion allocation for the cash gifts under the Expanded Centenarians Act in the proposed 2027 national budget is P140 million higher than the P3.3 billion earmarked in the 2026 General Appropriations Act,” Libanan said.

Libanan, who represents 4Ps party-list, urged families to register their elderly members aged 60 and above with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to facilitate access to the cash benefits.

“We encourage all households to register their elderly members online with the NCSC through the Elderly Database Management System so they can readily avail themselves of the cash gifts,” he said.

Libanan issued the statement as the country observes Elderly Filipino Week from Oct. 1 to 7 under Republic Act 10868. The law also declared the first Sunday of October as the National Respect for Centenarians Day.

The NCSC recently started the mass physical distribution of the P10,000 cash gifts to qualified elderly Filipinos who have reached the milestone ages of 80, 85, 90 and 95, as well as the P100,000 cash gifts for centenarians under Republic Act 11982 or the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024.

President Marcos had earlier directed the NCSC to promptly address delays in the release of the cash gifts. The commission said it would work with local government units to expedite the physical distribution of the benefits.