A total of 3,703 senior citizens in Manila are set to receive ₱10,000 each after reaching age milestones recognized under the Expanded Centenarians Act, as local authorities facilitated the rollout of the benefits in the city.
The assistance applies to elderly residents who recently turned 80, 85, 90, or 95 years old, age milestones covered by the law expanding government recognition for senior citizens before they reach 100.
The program is organized by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) in partnership with the Manila city government through the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), which helped identify qualified beneficiaries and coordinate the distribution process in the capital.
The legal basis for the benefit is Republic Act No. 11982, which amended the original Centenarians Act of 2016. The law grants ₱10,000 to seniors upon reaching ages 80, 85, 90, and 95, and ₱100,000 to Filipinos who reach 100 years old.
Before the amendment, the cash incentive was limited to Filipinos who reached the age of 100 under the original Centenarians Act. The expansion was introduced to recognize senior citizens earlier and provide additional support as the country’s elderly population continues to grow.
The distribution activity in Manila was led by Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, who presided over a ceremony marking the rollout of the program for the city’s beneficiaries.
Government programs targeting senior citizens have expanded in recent years as the Philippines faces a steadily increasing elderly population. Welfare initiatives such as milestone cash gifts aim to supplement limited pensions and help seniors manage everyday expenses including medicines, food, and other basic needs.
Officials said coordination between national agencies and local governments remains necessary to ensure that eligible senior citizens are identified and able to access benefits provided under existing welfare laws.
