Another centenarian dies without getting P100K benefit

Another centenarian passed away before getting his P100,000 benefit from the government, as mandated by the law.

According to a report on "24 Oras" on Thursday, 101-year-old Ignacio Ramos of Rosario, Batangas died on September 15, but was not able to receive the cash gift from the government as mandated in the Centenarians Act of 2016.

Ramos' son, Anacleto, said he already completed the requirements needed for the cash benefit but the Department of Social Welfare and Development failed to give the elderly man his gift.

"Marami pong proseso, maraming papel na requirement na hiningi sa akin. Akin pong ibinigay lahat 'yon," Anacleto Ramos said.

"Alam po ng matanda at palagi nga pong itinatanong kung nasaan ang kaniyang P100,000 eh 'di finollow-up ko po hanggang sa national government. Aking naitanong ay ang sabi nga, humingi ulit ng isa pang requirement na birth certificate ng kapatid ko eh 'di ibinigay ko po 'yong sa bunso kong kapatid," he added.

Meanwhile, DSWD spokesperson assistant secretary Glenda Relova said Ignacio was not included in the 2020 list of centenarians set to receive the beneficiary.

"Kinakailangan nating ihingi ng additional na pondo kasi hindi nga po sila kasama sa original na allocation at amin ding napag-alaman na ito pong si Mr. Ramos have only submitted their documents ngayon lang March," she said.

Relova said the department will try to grant the P100,000 cash gift to Ramos' family during the Elderly Filipino Week in October.

On September 12, Lola Eugena, another centenarian died without being given her cash gift.

Out of the 1,319 centenarians in the country, the DSWD already granted the cash gift to 1,075 senior citizens.

"So kakaunti na lang po na mga portion, kulang-kulang na lang na 200 'yong ise-serve natin for this year," Relova said.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News