In San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, senior citizens eligible for the P10,000 cash gift under the Expanded Centenarians Act are being urged to gather their necessary documents. Gretchen Anne Orbista, a Project Development Officer IV from the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), highlighted that seniors reaching the ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95 are entitled to this financial benefit starting January 2025. An orientation session was held at the old capitol, attended by leaders from the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) across the 18 towns of Antique. Orbista advised those approaching their milestone birthdays to obtain the required forms from their local OSCA and MSWDO offices to ensure they receive their cash gifts. The payout process is set to begin next month for those who have reached their milestone ages this month. Required documents include application forms, birth certificates, and national identification cards. Seniors unable to submit their forms or collect their cash gifts in person can authorize immediate family members through a notarized document. Additionally, Orbista noted that the centenarian program, previously managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, has now been transferred to the NCSC, with centenarians still eligible for a P100,000 grant to cover essentials like food, milk, and medicine. The total number of senior citizens in Antique stands at 78,435, though the exact number of those eligible for the cash gifts remains to be confirmed.
