LAGAWE, Ifugao –Give recognition to them while they can still appreciate it and give them cakes while they can still enjoy it.
The municipal government here gave cash incentives, cakes and plaques of recognition to 42 senior citizens who are 90 years old and above during the recent celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week with the theme “Kilalanin at Parangalan: Tagasulong ng Karapatan ng Nakatatanda Tungo sa Magandang Lipunan.”
There were 47 nonagenarians (90-99 years old) who were entitled to these incentives this year but only 42 were awarded the cash gifts, cakes and plaques during the annual assembly. Five others will given their incentives as soon as they submit the needed requirements.
Lagawe Federation of Senior Citizens President Miguel Dimalnat Sr. said this was the first time that these perks were given to the elderly of the town. This is pursuant to Municipal Ordinance No. 2018-01 approved last February 9, 2018 honoring and granting monetary incentives to senior citizens who are nonagenarians.
The granting of these incentives is based on Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016. The Sangguniang Bayan, however, decided to lower the age requirement after discovering that only one senior citizen who reached 100 years old had qualified for the Centenarian gift.
The ordinance was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ifugao which deemed that this did not violate the Centenarian Law even when the age was lowered since the implementing rules and regulations of this act allows it in order to honor the elderly who are considered sterling citizens that led exemplary long lives that deserved to be given tribute and respect.
The ordinance provides that for the first year of implementation, the nonagenarians shall receive the amount of P5,000 and a birthday cake to be given during the birthday of the elderly and P2,000 and a birthday cake for every succeeding year.
A centenarian will receive a cash incentive of P30,000 plus P5, 000 for those 101-104 years old and P50,000 for the milestone 105 years of age.
There are currently 1,983 senior citizens of this town.
Lagawe is the third municipality of Ifugao to grant these monetary perks to its older senior citizens after Kiangan and Hungduan.**JDP/DBC- PIA CAR, Ifugao
