ILOILO — Nearly 30,000 senior citizens in Western Visayas have received more than P315 million in government cash gifts under the Expanded Centenarians Act, with Iloilo province emerging as the top beneficiary as the program gains momentum in the region.
The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) confirmed that a total of 29,791 elderly residents who reached milestone ages were granted financial incentives, underscoring what officials describe as a growing recognition of senior citizens’ contributions to society.
“This is not a welfare dole-out but a celebration of life,” officials emphasized, as the region posted the highest number of beneficiaries nationwide.
Ann Rapunzel Ganzon, NCSC regional director, said the initiative formally took off last year with retroactive coverage.
“The implementation began in 2024, with the initial distribution of cash gifts commencing in 2025. We are retroactively recognizing seniors from 2024,” Ganzon said.
Data from the commission showed that P144.72 million was distributed to 14,211 beneficiaries in 2024, while P170.29 million went to 15,580 seniors in 2025.
Under the Expanded Centenarians Act, seniors aged 80, 85, 90, and 95 receive P10,000 each, while those reaching 100 years old and beyond are granted P100,000.
Women comprised the bulk of recipients, with 21,077 female beneficiaries compared to 8,714 males.
Iloilo province consistently posted the highest number of beneficiaries, serving 5,216 seniors in 2024 and increasing to 6,073 in 2025.
Negros Occidental followed with 3,987 beneficiaries in 2024 and 4,650 in 2025. Capiz recorded 1,701 in 2024 and 1,691 in 2025; Aklan had 1,456 in 2024 and 1,474 in 2025; Antique listed 1,361 in 2024 and 1,303 in 2025; while Guimaras had 490 in 2024 and 389 in 2025.
Despite the strong rollout, Ganzon cautioned that adjustments in work arrangements may slow down future payouts.
“We will operate from Tuesday to Friday, which might affect our distribution schedule,” she said, referring to the shift to a four-day workweek.
The NCSC-6 also reported sustained demand for the program, with around 6,000 new applications filed in the first quarter of 2026 alone, all endorsed by local government units.
Western Visayas currently counts 190 centenarians, further highlighting the region’s aging population and reinforcing the government’s push to institutionalize recognition programs for senior citizens./PN
