MANILA, Philippines - Marikina City 1st District Rep. Marcelino Teodoro has filed a bill seeking a P100,000 incentive for all Filipinos when they reach 100 years old.
Teodoro said in House Bill 35 or "Centenarians Act of 2013" that aside from the cash gift, every Filipino residing in the Philippines or abroad who reaches his or her 100th birthday should get a letter from the President of the Philippines congratulating the celebrator for his or her longevity.
The bill also seeks to amend Section 4 of Republic Act 7432 otherwise known as "An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes."
The proposed measure would also entitle all centenarians to 50 percent discount and exemption from the value-added tax on the sale of goods and services from all establishments.
Teodoro said the bill hopes to honor and provide monetary incentives to all Filipino centenarians for having led long and exemplary lives.
"As our nation's role model for living long, health and disciplined lives, centenarians should indeed be honored and respected accordingly by the younger generations, through the government's appropriate recognition and allocation of substantial pecuniary incentives," he added.
On top the recognition and cash gift to be given by the President, centenarians shall also get a plaque of recognition and a cash incentive by their respective city or municipal governments in appropriate ceremonies during the celebration of the "National Respect for Centenarians Day," every September 25.
The concerned local government unit shall determine the amount of the cash incentive, the bill said.
The measure provides posthumous plaques of recognition in honor of deceased centenarians to be presented to the nearest surviving relative of each centenarian or his/her representative.
A national committee shall be organized composed of the Executive Secretary as Chairperson and the respective secretaries of the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development and Health, and the Executive Director of the Commission of Filipinos Overseas as members to come out with the implementing rules and regulations.
The bill seeks to source the funding from unexpended appropriations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the General Appropriations Act of 2013.