Supplemental guidelines on the implementation of Republic Act No. 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2006” has been released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to cover deceased centenarians.

The newly released Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 11 Series of 2017 supports the previous DSWD MC No. 04 Series of 2017 which states the role of program implementers in granting the P100,000 cash incentive and Letter of Felicitation signed by the President or Posthumous Plaque of Recognition for senior citizens, whether in the Philippines or abroad, who reached 100 years old and were alive when the law took effect last June 15, 2016.

Based on the new supplemental guidelines, the Department through its concerned field office (FO) shall release the cash grant and posthumous plaque of recognition to the nearest surviving relative or the “estate” (one who designates the real or personal property in which one has a right of interest) of the deceased centenarian.

In order for the awards and grant to be released, the following requirements must be presented to the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO) and the head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) for identification and validation:

  • Senior Citizen’s ID;
  • Any Philippine government issued ID which shows the centenarian’s citizenship and date of birth;
  • Death certificate of the deceased centenarian;
  • Affidavit of Adjudication of the estate or nearest surviving relative; and
  • Any Philippine government issued ID of the estate or surviving relatives.

Other alternative documents which can be presented are: marriage certificate; old school documents; baptismal or confirmation records; birth certificate of children; or an affidavit executed by at least two (2) disinterested persons at least 80 years old with personal knowledge of the centenarian’s actual age or date of birth.

Abandoned, neglected or unattached centenarians

In addition, the supplemental guidelines also covers centenarians who were abandoned, neglected or unattached and are currently under the care of a social welfare agency (SWA), a residential care facility run by the DSWD or the local government unit (LGU), or a non-relative.

Aside from the given documentary requirements, abandoned, neglected or unattached centenarians shall undergo assessment using a General Intake Sheet (GIS) conducted by the DSWD FO, in coordination with the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO) before receiving the grant.

For the incentive of deceased centenarians under the care of SWAs or residential care facilities, any excess amount may be deposited to the account of the SWA or residential care facility if there is no nearest living relative or estate claimant.

Meanwhile, for those under the custody of a non-relative, the DSWD FO shall release the grant to the centenarian after the fulfilment of documentary requirements. The LGU shall closely monitor the management of the incentive.

For DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, the supplemental guidelines provides a better way of giving assistance to elderly Filipinos, especially to those who were abandoned and neglected.

“There are unfortunate circumstances which force Filipino families to abandon their elderly, and as much as it pains us to see them away from their own relatives, we can only provide and care for them through our residential care facilities,” she said.

“Sadly, even the facilities that the DSWD runs and manages are in a sad state of disrepair, and we really need to focus on improving them so that they can be better equipped to address the needs of the residents. In any case, we hope that through the cash incentive, we can help assist those who cared and are currently caring for our centenarians so that they can maintain their well-being,” the Secretary concluded. #