HAPPY CENTENARIANS. Tboli elder Luheng Aloy Cayok (right), 103, and Blaan matriarch Rebecca Latimbon Sambog (left), 101, separately received their centenarian cash gifts in General Santos City and Tupi town in South Cotabato, respectively, on Thursday (June 22, 2023). The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Soccsksargen Region and the National Commission of Senior Citizens Regional Cluster 7 facilitated the release of cash gifts. (Photo courtesy of Allen V. Estabillo–NCSC Cluster 7)
KORONADAL CITY – Two Indigenous People (IP) centenarians from General Santos City and South Cotabato province received their respective centenarian gifts from the government on Thursday afternoon.
The recipients were Luheng Aloy Cayok, a 103-year-old Tboli elder from Barangay San Jose, General Santos City; and 101-year-old Blaan matriarch Rebecca Latimbon Sambog of Tupi, South Cotabato.
Both were teary-eyed when they received their cash gifts from the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Soccsksargen (DSWD-12) and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Regional Cluster 7.
“I am so happy. Salamat, salamat (thank you, thank you),” Cayok was quoted as saying in his native Tboli in a joint statement by DSWD-12 and NCSC.
Cayok had just celebrated his 103rd birthday last Feb. 28 in General Santos City.
On the other hand, Sambog also received her PHP100,000 gift Thursday afternoon at her house in Barangay Kablon, Tupi town.
Aside from PHP100,000 from DSWD, both centenarians also received an additional PHP10,000 each as a cash gift from the NCSC through Commissioner Edwin G. Espejo and a letter of felicitation signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The centenarian cash grant is mandated under Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016, which seeks to honor and grant additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians.
“This is in recognition of their invaluable contributions to our society and in nation-building,” said Espejo, whose NCSC Cluster 7 area includes Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 12 (Soccsksargen) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Labinia Bañes, DSWD-12 focal person for senior citizens, said they endorsed the release of the centenarian gifts following a meticulous assessment of documents submitted by the families of the beneficiaries in coordination with their respective local government units (LGUs).
“We matched their documents with other existing records and conduct proper validation to ensure that the grants are given to the deserving recipients,” she said.
To date, Bañes said some 30 verified centenarians in Region 12 have received their PHP100,000 cash gift with some LGUs granting additional incentives to the beneficiaries.
This week alone, DSWD approved the release of the centenarian gifts of nine centenarians in the region, including Cayok and Sambog.
In General Santos City, centenarians get an additional PHP100,000 cash gift from the LGU and those still living receive a monthly medical stipend of PHP5,000.
Similarly, the South Cotabato provincial government grants qualified centenarians a one-time cash gift of PHP20,000 each.
Bañes said other LGUs in the region grant additional one-time incentives ranging from PHP10,000 to PHP100,000, food packs and other goods.
The Soccsksargen Region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan. (PNA)
