We Filipinos value our families. We care for our elders, especially our relatives. This is why the DSWD Centenarian Program was created: to make sure that these special people have a comfortable life and are not forgotten by society. For most people, aging can be a scary thing. And though it is a normal part of life, there are ways we can make it more appealing – one approach is the DSWD’s Centenarian Program, which benefits the elderly population in the country.
Also Read: How to Apply DSWD Senior Citizen Assistance Cash Aid
If you are interested in learning more about this program and its specifics, read until the end of this guide.
What is DSWD Centenarian Program?
A couple of years ago, Republic Act 10868 was issued to honor and grant privileges and benefits to Filipino centenarians (or those reaching the age of 100). The bill was referred to as the Centenarian Act of 2016.
The program, which is known as the Centenarian Program, is carried out by the DSWD. It involves the various field offices and local government units.
What are the Benefits of Centenarians?
To be eligible for the Centenarian Program, an applicant must be at least 100 years old. Each centenarian will receive PHP 100,000 as gift money and a letter of felicitation signed by the President.
For deceased centenarians, a posthumous plaque of recognition will be awarded to their nearest surviving relative. In addition to these national benefits, each city or town that has qualified centenarians will also receive plaque of recognition and cash incentive from their respective local government units.
What are the requirements?
Centenarians can apply for the program by presenting the necessary documents to the local government or DSWD. The field office of the agency must endorse the documents.
- Birth Certificate; or
- Philippine Passport.
In the absence of the above documents, any of the following primary IDs may be submitted:
- Senior Citizen ID or Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) ID;
- LTO-issued Driver’s License;
- SSS ID;
- GSIS ID;
- PRC License;
- Postal ID;
- Voter’s ID or COMELEC certification; or
- Other IDs that indicate Filipino citizenship and year of birth.
In the absence of the above primary IDs, any two (2) of the following secondary documents may be submitted:
- Marriage Certificate;
- Children’s Birth Certificate;
- Baptismal or Confirmation Certificate;
- Old School or Employment Records; or
- Affidavit of at least two (2) Disinterested Persons.
Centenarian Filipinos residing in other countries can present their IDSs to the Philippine Embassy. These documents will then be forwarded to the Commission on Filipinos overseas.
How to Qualify for the Centenarian Program
Identification, verification, and notification of beneficiaries are three of the necessary procedures that must be completed before the Centenarian Program may distribute awards and incentives.
IDENTIFICATION PHASE
At the community level, records from the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), recipients of social pensions, Listahanan, and other databases of a similar nature will be used to identify target beneficiaries. The same may be said about people who live in residential care homes, regardless of whether they are publicly or privately run.
During this time, information gathered from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas will be used to locate Filipino centenarians currently residing outside the country (CFO).
VERIFICATION PHASE
Once the beneficiaries have been identified, they will be verified for accuracy. At this time, the centenarian is required to present either their birth certificate or their Philippine passport. In conjunction with the Head of the OSCA, the City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (C/MSWDO) will be in charge of overseeing the process.
In the event that the centenarian does not possess a Birth Certificate or a Philippine Passport, other primary or secondary IDS may be required from them (see above list of requirements).
After that, the C/MSWDO will provide the mayor or municipality with a list of centenarians that has been consolidated and verified, along with any additional paperwork that is required. These will be forwarded to the relevant DSWD Field Office for consideration.
The DSWD Field Office may submit a request for the list to be cross-checked with the database of social pension recipients or other databases with comparable information. After that, the list will be finalized and delivered to the DSWD Central Office.
NOTIFICATION OF BENEFICIARIES / DISTRIBUTION
After all of the applications have been processed, the DSWD Field Office will then provide the C/MSWDO and OSCA with the final list of centenarians living in the city or municipality.
In return, the C/MSWDO will send a written notification to the centenarian and/or their family. All documentation must be handed in on two separate occasions, either to the OSCA or to residential care facilities (if applicable).
On the first Sunday of October, which is designated as National Respect for Centenarians Day, or on the actual day of the centenarian’s 100th birthday, whichever comes first, the DSWD Field Office will present the centenarian with the Centenarian’s Gift in the amount of 100,000 Philippine Pesos as well as a Letter of Felicitation. On the same day, the Local Government Unit (LGU) will present the centenarian with a plaque of commemoration in addition to a monetary incentive.
During this time, the Posthumous Plaque of Recognition will be presented by the DSWD Field Office to the closest living relative of deceased centenarians.
INFOGRAPHICS: The DSWD Centenarian Program
The Department of Social and Welfare Services (DSWD) has published some infographics regarding the Centenarian Program. These infographics explain the benefits available to centenarians and the documentation necessary to receive these benefits.
VIDEO: Cash Incentive Awarded to 110-Year-Old Filipina
The DSWD shared a video featuring Lola Antonia, who is 110 years old and hails from Agusan del Sur’s Trento. She is a beneficiary of the Centenarian Program and received a cash incentive of PHP 100,000. Congratulations to you, Lola Antonia! May you live a healthy and happy life, filled with overflowing blessings and love.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is DSWD Centenarian Program?
Republic Act 10868, sometimes referred to as the Centenarian Act of 2016, includes the Centenarian Program as one of its provisions. Centenarians in the Philippines are eligible for a number of special privileges and advantages thanks to this law.
2. Who is in charge of implementing the program?
Both the field offices and the central office of the DSWD are responsible for carrying out the Centenarian Program. These are the entities that are accountable for coordinating with the various units of the local government.
3. What are the benefits of centenarians?
In fulfillment of Republic Act 10868, a centenarian is eligible to receive a gift from the President in the amount of 100,000 Philippine Pesos. A Posthumous Award is another way to honor a person after they have passed away.
Those who reach their 100th birthday will not only be honored with a plaque of commemoration but also with a monetary gift from the town or city in which they were born.
4. What are the requirements?
The DSWD Field Office would accept applications for the program’s benefits from centenarians who provide either their birth certificate or their Philippine passport as proof of their age.
Even if they are missing any of the required documents, centenarians can nonetheless turn in their identification. The OSCA ID and the Senior Citizen ID are two examples of this.
They are also permitted to produce two more documents, such as a certificate of marriage or the birth certificates of their children.
It is still possible for Filipinos who are currently residing in other countries to provide identification documents that are valid in the Philippines; this is especially true for centenarians.
5. What are the steps involved?
The different processes that make up the Centenarian Program are what are used to carry out the process of determining who the program participants are and sending them notifications. These include determining who the program’s recipients are, verifying their eligibility, and notifying them about the program.
After the DSWD Field Office has sent a letter of congratulations and presented the centenarian with a gift in celebration of their achievement, the incentives and awards are then distributed. On the first Sunday of October, the organization presents the centenarian with either a cash award or a plaque recognizing their achievement. The Local Government Unit will also provide the centenarian a monetary reward on the day that they celebrate their 100th birthday.
The DSWD Field Office will award the surviving relatives of centenarians with a plaque of Posthumous Recognition as a token of their admiration and gratitude.
Final Thoughts
People should make a big deal out of the 100th birthday of their grandparents, great-grandparents, or other elderly relatives. This occasion ought to be commemorated by each and every one of them, not simply by them individually. It is only fitting that the Department of Social and Welfare Services (DSWD) provides financial and other support services to Filipino centenarians, as the old have a great deal to teach us.
We hope that you’ve learned a lot from this article about the DSWD Centenarian Program and the benefits it offers to Filipino centenarians. If you have a loved one who is 100 years old or older, don’t hesitate to contact the nearest DSWD office for assistance.