By Leilanie G. Adriano
LAOAG CITY—Cash gifts amounting to a total PHP1.5 million were divided among 150 octogenarians and nonagenarians from the cities of Laoag and Batac and the municipality of San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte on Saturday as part of the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat” program.
The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) facilitated the payout and caravan of services held in three venues.
Under Republic Act No. 11982 (Expanded Centenarians Act), all Filipinos who turn 80, 85, 90 and 95 will receive a cash gift of PHP10,000.
Eighty-one-year-old Caridad Salvador from Brgy. 27, Laoag City said in an interview that she is grateful to the government.
“Being single all my life, I am very happy that I received a cash gift from the government. This will be used to for my maintenance medicines. Thank you, Mr. President. We love you very much,” she said.
For 80-year-old JoseBallesteros from Brgy. 12, also in this city, the money will be used for the repair of his house damaged by a previous typhoon.
“I am glad to receive the amount for my family,” Ballesteros said as he thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for thinking of the welfare of senior citizens.
Through the efforts of NCSC, it is expected that over PHP2.9 billion in financial aid will be distributed to 275,000 senior citizens across the country this year.
