File photo of NCSC Commissioner Edwin G. Espejo. (Photo courtesy of NCSC)
KORONADAL CITY – An official of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) called on senior citizens in the Soccsksargen Region on Friday to register online as the agency fast-tracks preparations for implementing the Expanded Centenarians Act.
Edwin Espejo, NCSC commissioner-in-charge for Soccsksargen, appealed to octogenarians and nonagenarians to ensure they are properly registered and counted early to facilitate their inclusion in the database for eligible recipients.
"We are committed to ensuring that every senior citizen receives the benefits they deserve," he said in a statement.
He asked the children of senior citizens to help them register online to ensure the NCSC gets the correct information.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law in February this year Republic Act No. 11982, or the Expanded Centenarians Act, which grants a cash gift of PHP100,000 and a Letter of Felicitation to senior citizens who reach 100 years old.
It also provides cash gifts of PHP10,000 for each senior citizen who reaches the milestones of 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old.
"The Expanded Centenarians Act is a testament to our nation's respect and gratitude for our elders, and we must reach every eligible individual," Espejo said.
He urged local government units (LGUs), through their Offices for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCAs), to expedite the registration process of senior citizens in their localities.
Soccsksargen comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, and Kidapawan.
As of last month, the region's LGUs listed 401,007 senior citizens in the area. More than 12,000 senior citizens are eligible to get cash benefits during the first year of implementing RA 11982.
To date, over 5.6 million senior citizens have registered nationwide.
Espejo said the NCSC, in coordination with concerned government agencies, has been finalizing the guidelines for RA 11982, which officially took effect on March 17, 2024.
"By registering online, senior citizens can ensure they are part of our official records and can receive their benefits without delay," he said. (PNA)
