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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Congress of the Philippines
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House bil . No. 4589

Introduced by Hon, Mary Mi

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR PRE-CENTENARIAN GIFTS TO QUALIFIED FILIPINOS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10868 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “CENTENARIANS ACT OF 2016.”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Taking care of our /olas and /olos is deeply rooted in the Filipino family culture. The
Constitution affirms this as it mandates the family to take care of its elderly members alongside
the State through its programs of social security.' Pursuant thereto, on 23 June 2016, President
Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10868, otherwise known as the
“Centenarians Act of 2016”. The law honors and awards Filipino centenarians or those who
reach one hundred years old through a letter of felicitation from the President and a centenarian
gift of one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).

Indeed, becoming a centenarian is a marvel of life. However, reaching the age of at
least seventy-five (75) is no less a milestone. In fact, on July 2022, the Philippine Statistics
Authority, in its National QuickStat file, reported that only 4.7% Filipinos in 2015 are sixty-
five (65) years old or older. Furthermore, in 2020, the current life span for Filipino females is
74.3 years, and even lower for Filipino males at 68.8 years. Thus, this bill aims to celebrate
this milestone for our elderly citizens by giving out “pre-centenarian gifts” or cash gifts in the
amount of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) to those who reach the age of seventy-five (75)
years old, and every five years thereafter. It is only but a little appreciation to our
citizens that comprise our living history and contributed much to our national wealth.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought.

MARY MITZI carhodux

Representative
2™ District, Caloocan City

' 1987 Constitution, Article XV, Section 4.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Congress of the Philippines
Quezon City

ETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“7, 4583

House Bil} Ne

~ Introduced by Hon. Mary Mitzi Lim Cajayon-Uy

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR PRE-CENTENARIAN GIFTS TO QUALIFIED FILIPINOS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10868 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “CENTENARIANS ACT OF 2016.”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Sec. 2 of R.A. No. 10868 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. Letter of Felicitation and Cash Gift. — All Filipinos who reach the age
of hundred (100) years old, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, shall be
honored with:

Xx

PROVIDED, THAT FILIPINOS WHO REACH THE AGE OF SEVENTY-
FIVE YEARS (75) OLD SHALL ALREADY BE GIVEN A CASH GIFT IN THE
AMOUNT OF TEN THOUSAND PESOS (PHP10,000.00) AS A PRE-
CENTENARIAN GIFT, PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT TEN THOUSAND PESOS
(PHP 10,000.00) SHALL BE GIVEN EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS SINCE TURNING
SEVENTY-FIVE (75) YEARS OLD, PROVIDED FURTHER, UPON EFFECTIVITY
OF THIS ACT, THAT THE PRE-CENTENARIAN GIFTS SHALL RETROACT FOR
FILIPINOS WHOSE AGES ARE BEYOND SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD BUT
BELOW ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD, PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT UPON
REACHING ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD, THE CENTENARIAN SHALL
RECEIVE THE REMAINING CENTENARIAN GIFT AMOUNTING TO FIFTY
THOUSAND PESOS (PHP50,000.00).”

SECTION 2. The Secretaries of Department of Social Welfare and Development, the
Department of Health, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Department of


Interior and Local Government shall promulgate the necessary guidelines for and shall
take the lead in the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. Section 2 of R.A. No. 10868, other laws, presidential
decrees or issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules
or regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act is hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least one (1) national newspaper of general

circulation, whichever date comes earlier.

Approved,