The provincial government of Iloilo has disbursed some PHP9.83 million in monetary rewards to 1,777 elderly citizens aged 85, 95 and 100.
A total of 1,734 received their incentives, totaling PHP9.61 million last year. This year, PHP215,000 in incentives were divided among 43 beneficiaries.
The recipients included 63 centenarians, 549 aged 85 and 1,165 aged 95.
Under Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-216, those who turn 85 and 95 years of age will receive PHP5,000 while it will be PHP20,000 for those who will reach 100 years, aside from a congratulatory letter and a certification from the governor.
“We have around 270,000 senior citizens in the province,” Social Welfare Officer IV Ann Rapunzel Ganzon said in an interview on Tuesday.
In addition to the monetary incentives, Ganzon said that they will soon inaugurate the senior citizen’s community center in the municipality of Cabatuan, the first in Western Visayas.
The center was introduced by Commissioner Dr. Mary Jean Loreche of the National Commission of Senior Citizens, with a PHP5 million funding from the Senior Citizens party-list.
It is connected to the rural health unit and has a rehabilitation room with an eight-bed capacity. It also has areas for livelihood training, meetings and seminars, socials and recreation, and palliative care.
Over the weekend, 20 senior citizens and persons with disabilities were recipients of assistive devices from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and various Rotary Clubs of Iloilo.
A free pampering session, medical consultation, and legal consultation, in partnership with a local radio station, would also be available for 200 senior citizens.