ILOILO City – Nearly 16,000 senior citizens in Western Visayas have already received a combined P144.16 million in cash assistance under the Expanded Centenarian Act this year, as the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) ramps up its outreach with the opening of its new regional office in Jaro district.
The office, inaugurated on Aug. 8, will serve as a hub for implementing programs and addressing concerns of the elderly, according to NCSC chairperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche.
She stressed that regional offices are “crucial for the efficient rollout of the commission’s directives and to make services more accessible to senior citizens with concerns and queries.”
Under the Expanded Centenarian Act, seniors aged 80, 85, 90, and 95 each receive P10,000, while those reaching 100 years old get P100,000.
The law also supports wellness and health programs through community-based care centers, as well as livelihood initiatives for older adults.
Data show that in the first quarter of 2025, the NCSC released P56.03 million to 5,153 seniors — 2,265 aged 80, 1,870 aged 85, 739 aged 90, 229 aged 95, and 50 centenarians.
In the second quarter, payouts reached P88.13 million for 8,255 seniors, comprising 3,802 aged 80, 2,805 aged 85, 1,229 aged 90, 357 aged 95, and 62 centenarians.
As of the third batch of beneficiaries, almost 8,000 more seniors in Region 6 have qualified for the program, with additional names expected to be added.
NCSC regional director Ann Rapunzel Ganzon credited strong partnerships with local governments for the program’s reach.
“We go down to the community, to the grassroots level, so we raise awareness about the programs of NCSC,” she said. “For bedridden seniors, we deliver the cash gift to their homes, while mobile seniors can claim it at designated payout sites.”
The NCSC works closely with municipal social welfare offices, the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs, and local federation officers to ensure benefits reach all eligible elderly residents in the region./PN
