Pacquiao urges Senate to fast-track passage of measure granting P1M to 101-year-olds

Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao has urged the Senate  to pass its version of the proposed amendments to the Centenarians Act of 2016 that will grant Filipinos who reach 101 years old a cash incentive of P1 million.

"I hope Senate will have time to either fast-track the final reading approval of the bill or simply adopt the House version when session resumes in May,” Pacquiao said in a statement on Wednesday.

Also under the bill, all Filipinos who reach the age of 80, 85, 90, and 95 years old shall receive P25,000 aside from a letter of felicitation from the President.

Pacquiao also called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to swiftly review applications for availment of the  P100,000 cash benefit for centenarians, as provided under Republic Act 10868.

Pacquiao made the statement during his visit to the Aeta community in Porac, Pampanga, where he met centenarian Jungle Serrano.

Serrano sought for help as his birth records could not be confirmed from civil registry records, and he has yet to receive benefits as mandated by the law.

"Sana bigyan ng masusing pagtuon ang mga kaso na katulad ng kay Lolo Jungle. Malaking bagay para sa katulad niya ang cash incentive para sa kanilang medical needs and maintenance medicines,” Pacquiao said. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News