A total of 530 centenarians in Eastern Visayas have received PHP100,000 in incentives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from 2016 to 2024, the DSWD regional office here reported Tuesday.

Of the total, 199 beneficiaries are from Leyte province, 34 from Biliran, 63 from Southern Leyte, 92 from Eastern Samar, 63 from Northern Samar, and 79 from Samar.

Under Republic Act No. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016, all Filipinos at the age of 100 years old, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, shall be honored with a letter of felicitation signed by the President of the Philippines congratulating the celebrant for his or her longevity, and a “centenarian gift” worth PHP100,000.

Aside from the cash gift, the DSWD provides a posthumous plaque of recognition for a deceased centenarian, which may be received by her or his nearest surviving relative.

“During the years of the program’s implementation, the DSWD, in partnership with each local government unit in the region, has successfully carried out the recognition and appreciation of centenarians who have contributed to the development of society,” the DSWD regional office here said in a statement.

To avail of the benefits under the law, relatives of the centenarians must submit primary documents such as the birth certificate and Philippine passport to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office and/or to the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in their localities.

If the two documents are not available, any one of the primary identification cards issued by OSCA, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and Social Security System (SSS); driver’s license; Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license; and Commission on Elections (Comelec) voter’s ID, is also accepted.

The law also provides that centenarians shall receive a plague of recognition and a cash incentive from their respective city or municipal government “in appropriate ceremonies” in addition to the letter of felicitation and a PHP100,000 centenarian gift from DSWD. (PNA)