House bill seeks add'l benefits, privileges for centenarians

A bill has been filed in the House of Representatives seeking additional benefits and privileges for Filipinos who will reach the age of 100. “While we laud the youth as the hope of the future, let us commend and acknowledge centenarians as the fulfillment of the present," said Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, author of House Bill 834 or the proposed “Centenarians Act of 2010." In filing the bill, Lagman also wants the 25th of September every year declared as National Respect for Centenarians Day. Based on the latest data of the National Statistics office, the country has 2,105 centenarians. The average life expectancy in the country is 71.6 years. “We all aspire to live healthy, and consequently, long and productive lives. Living to be a centenarian, or three decades more than the average, is certainly a distinction worthy of emulation and public recognition," said Lagman. Under the proposed measure, every Filipino residing in the Philippines or abroad who will celebrate his or her 100th birthday, shall be honored with a letter of felicitation from no less than the President of the Philippines congratulating the celebrant for his or her longevity The birthday celebrator shall also be receiving a "centenarian’s gift" in the amount of P100,000.000 chargeable against the contingent fund. Also, as part of the annual Family Week celebration from September 19–28, all Filipinos who have turned 100 years old in the current fiscal year shall be awarded a plaque of recognition and a cash incentive by their respective city or municipal governments during the National Respect for Centenarians Day This will be in addition to the presidential recognition and the cash gift of P100,000.00. The bill also stated that Filipinos who reached their 100th birthday prior to the effectivity of the law shall be honored on the celebration of the First National Respect for Centenarians Day, or 120 days after the effectivity of the law, whichever comes earlier, in appropriate ceremonies which shall be observed as a national event. In the same event, posthumous plaques of recognition in honor of the deceased centenarians shall be presented to the nearest surviving relative of each centenarian or his/her representative. All centenarians shall be entitled to the grant of 50 percent senior citizen discount and exemption from the Value Added Tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of the goods and services from all establishments. - Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV