ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo city government on Friday awarded PHP50,000 each to two senior citizens who turned centenarians.
Salustiano Jimenea from Gustilo, La Paz and Basilisa Hablan from Buhang, Jaro were the first to benefit from Iloilo City’s Centenarian Incentive Award granting PHP50,000 from the previous amount of only PHP10,000.
Under the ordinance authored by Councilor Armand Parcon, chairman of the Committee on Veterans, Retirees, Elderly and Disabled Persons of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), the city government has to allocate PHP1 million annually for their benefit.
The assistance will go a long way because it is five times higher than the previous PHP10,000, Mayor Jose Espinosa III said.
He said that both centenarians are not bed-ridden although Hablan could no longer hear and see.
The mayor, however, was surprised knowing that at the age of 100, Jimenea has no maintenance medication, only vitamins. His secret was eating vegetables, he said.
In addition to the cash incentives, the city government also gave them cake and a certificate.
They are also entitled to receive the PHP100,000 incentive provided by the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA)
Photo courtesy of the Office of the Mayor
