145 Baliwag Seniors Get Milestone Birthdays Cash Gift

Photo via Mommy Sonia Estrella

A total of 145 senior citizens from across Baliwag City were formally awarded cash gifts during a distribution ceremony held at SM City Baliwag, July 21.

The initiative was spearheaded by the National Commission of Senior Citizens Regional Office III (N.C.S.C. R.O. III) in close coordination with local government units.

The distribution was carried out under Republic Act No. 11982, widely known as the Expanded Centenarians Act, which broadens national recognition and financial welfare benefits for elderly Filipinos reaching specific milestone ages.

Under the provisions of the expanded law, octogenarians and nonagenarians celebrating their 80th, 85th, 90th, and 95th birthdays received a cash incentive of ₱10,000 each.

Meanwhile, centenarians reaching the 100-year mark were granted a ₱100,000 cash award, celebrating their exceptional longevity and enduring service as foundational members of the local community.

Local leaders and representatives from N.C.S.C. R.O. III emphasized that these financial grants serve a dual purpose—providing direct monetary assistance to help offset medical and daily living expenses while offering public honor to senior citizens who have dedicated their lives to building the municipality.

The choice of venue at SM City Baliwag provided a safe, accessible, and climate-controlled environment to accommodate the elderly beneficiaries and their families during the payout.

City officials extended their heartfelt gratitude to the N.C.S.C. R.O. III for its steadfast support and smooth execution of the distribution drive.

Local government representatives reaffirmed their commitment to expanding municipal social protection programs, ensuring that Baliwag’s senior citizens continue to receive dignified care, healthcare access, and compassionate public service.

Prior to the physical distribution, the N.C.S.C. and local social welfare officers conducted rigorous cross-matching through the national Elderly Data Management System (E.D.M.S.) to verify the birth dates and identity documents of all beneficiaries.

This systematic pre-validation process ensured that qualifying celebrants received their cash grants cleanly and without procedural delays.

For many of the elderly attendees, the monetary gift arrives as crucial aid to cover maintenance medications, specialized nutrition, and assistive healthcare devices.

Family members accompanying the celebrants expressed appreciation for the government’s recognition, noting that the grant significantly eases household caretaking costs during an economic period marked by inflation.

The enactment of R.A. 11982 marks a pivotal shift from the original Centenarians Act of 2016, which previously restricted financial rewards exclusively to those reaching 100 years of age.

Lawmakers expanded the legislation so that elderly Filipinos could enjoy early financial support and national recognition while still active and able to make full use of the funds.

Representatives from the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in Baliwag reminded residents that registration for the milestone benefits remains open continuously throughout the year.

Senior citizens or their authorized family members are encouraged to submit birth records and identification cards to their local OSCA or barangay halls four to six months prior to their milestone birthdays to ensure timely inclusion in subsequent payout schedules.

The municipal government reaffirmed its broader pledge to create an age-friendly city by pairing national financial programs with local healthcare initiatives, free medical checkups, and accessible public facilities.

City leaders highlighted that caring for elderly residents remains a top civic priority, reflecting the core values of respect, gratitude, and community solidarity across Baliwag.