ILOILO City – Government cash assistance for senior citizens is gaining momentum in Western Visayas, with 639 elderly residents in Iloilo City receiving P10,000 each and centenarians granted P100,000, as authorities signal a wider rollout and increased funding in the coming months.
A total of 639 senior citizens in Iloilo City each received P10,000 in financial assistance, while four centenarians — three living and one deceased — were granted P100,000 each during a payout held Friday, April 10.
The distribution was facilitated by the City Social Development and Welfare Office (CSDWO) in coordination with the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
NCSC regional director Anne Rapunzel Ganzon assured that more beneficiaries will receive assistance in the coming months, as the program rolls out across Western Visayas.
“There’s going to be another payout hopefully this May. This is continuous because we only started in March and April for Region 6,” Ganzon said.
She explained that the rollout began in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, followed by Guimaras, then the province of Iloilo, and now Iloilo City.
“After the Holy Week, we proceeded to Iloilo province and now here in the city. This is part of a regional rollout,” she added.
Ganzon emphasized that the assistance is released on a quarterly basis.
“This is done every quarter. The first quarter began in March for us, although most regions started earlier, around February and March. For Region 6, we started March and April, and it will continue in May,” she said.
Ganzon also revealed that additional funds are expected, which will allow more senior citizens to benefit from the program.
“The amount we are currently distributing came from the NCSC Central Office, but there will be additional allocations for May. This means more grantees across the entire region,” she said.
She noted that the agency is working to expand its reach to ensure more elderly Filipinos receive government support.
Aside from the P10,000 assistance, the NCSC also provided P100,000 cash incentives to centenarians in recognition of their longevity.
The incentive is part of the government’s program honoring Filipinos who reach 100 years old.
Ganzon urged beneficiaries to prioritize their most important needs, particularly health-related expenses.
“We encourage our senior citizens to use the assistance for medicines, milk, and other basic necessities,” she said.
She stressed that the program is meant to ease the daily burden of elderly citizens, especially amid rising costs of living.
The payout forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to support senior citizens, with authorities assuring that more distributions will follow as funds are expanded and additional beneficiaries are identified across Western Visayas./PN
