Image capture of video by Rated K via Prince Cess’s YouTube channel - The Centenarians Act of 2016 was signed by President Aquino into law
- Under the new law, all Filipinos who reach the age of 100 will receive P100K and a felicitation letter from the President of the Philippines
- Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the principal proponent of the Act, thanked the president for his approval of the measure
Exactly one week before he steps down as President of the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III signed the Centenarians Act into law.
President Aquino signed Republic Act 10868 or Centenarians Act of 2016 on June 23, according to Presidential Communications Operation Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, the principal proponent of the Act, expressed his gratitude to the president for his approval of the measure.
“Just in the nick of time! I must say it was really a long wait but it was well worth the wait,” he said.
“[On] behalf of all the co-authors of the Centenarians Act, I would like to thank our President for giving it the green light at last,” the lawmaker added.
The earlier version of Centenarians Act was disapproved by the president in 2013 during the 15th Congress because of a provision mandating businesses to grant a 75-percent discount on goods and services to customers aged 100 and older. President Aquino said it was too heavy for business establishments to shoulder.
Coloma said the president approved the law because it no longer carries the questionable provision.
“Centenarians Act as enacted does not carry the provision about 75% value-added tax exemption which was the objectionable feature of the enrolled bill when it was first submitted to the President and vetoed in the 15th Congress,” Coloma said.
As mentioned in GMA News Online, under the newly enacted Centenarians Act, all Filipinos who reach the age of 100 will receive a letter of felicitation from the President of the Philippines and a P100,000 cash gift, whether they are residing in the Philippines or abroad.
They will also be awarded with a plaque of recognition and additional cash gift from their respective city or municipal governments during the National Respect for Centenarians Day, which is set on September 25 of every year.
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