TACLOBAN CITY—A total of 530 centenarians in Eastern Visayas have received benefits under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 8’s Centenarian Program since its implementation in 2016.
In accordance with Republic Act 10868, also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016, each beneficiary received a monetary incentive of P100,000 and a letter of recognition from the President of the Philippines.
Based on data, 34 centenarians hailed from Biliran province, 63 from each Southern Leyte and Northern Samar, 79 from Samar province, and 92 from Eastern Samar.
Leyte province recorded the highest number of beneficiaries, with a total of 199 centenarians.
Of the total beneficiaries, 126 were men and 404 were women.
The program’s successful implementation over the years has been made possible through the collaboration between the DSWD and various Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region.
The initiative aims to honor and recognize centenarians for their significant contributions to society.
Starting in 2025, the management of the Centenarian Program will be transferred to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
This transition will coincide with the implementation of Republic Act 11982, or the Expanded Centenarians Act, which seeks to provide cash incentives to Filipino octogenarians (80 to 85 years old) and nonagenarians (90 to 95 years old). (PR)
