The City Government of Davao has recently promulgated the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of City Ordinance No. 0727-21, Series of 2021, which honors centenarians in the city.
Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte on May 13, 2022, signed Executive Order (EO) No. 20, Series of 2022, also known as “An Order Promulgating The Implementing Rules and Regulations of City Ordinance No. 0727-21, Series of 2021, Entitled “An Order Honoring Centenarians In The City of Davao.”
EO 20 cited Article XV, Section 4, of the Philippine Constitution, which states it is the family’s duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through programs and social security.
The EO also cited Davao City Ordinance No. 0727-21, Series of 2021 which aims to recognize and honor Davao centenarians by granting them cash incentives.
“These rules are promulgated to ensure uniform interpretation and implementation of the guidelines to avail the awards and incentives for Dabawenyos who have reached the age of one hundred (100) years old pursuant to Ordinance No. 0727-21, Series of 2021,” the EO states.
The IRR shall be “construed and applied in accordance with and in furtherance of the policies and objectives of the law. In case of conflict or ambiguity which may arise in the implementation of these rules, the concerned agencies shall issue the necessary clarification. In case of doubt, the same shall be construed liberally and in favor of the centenarian,” it added.
EO 20 also defined a qualified Dabawenyo centenarian as a Filipino citizen who has reached 100 years old and above, is a registered voter, and physically residing for at least three consecutive years in the City of Davao. He or she will receive a gift of P100,000 on top of the incentive given by the national government and a letter or plaque of felicitation from the Davao City mayor.
The requirements include a duly accomplished application form, which shall be obtained and accomplished at the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO)-District Office; an authenticated birth certificate or a Philippine passport. Otherwise, an applicant can present a senior citizen’s identification card issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) Head indicating the year of birth or other Philippine Government-issued IDs such as Land Transportation Office (LTO)-issued driver’s license, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) cards, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license, Philippine postal ID, Commission on Elections (Comelec) voter’s ID, etc. showing Filipino citizenship and year of birth as a reference point for the centenarian’s eligibility for the awards and incentives.
Without the primary IDs, a marriage certificate of the centenarian issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) or the Local Civil Registrar shall be honored, as well as a PSA or LCR issued birth certificates of children borne by/of the centenarian; affidavits executed by at least two disinterested persons who should be at least 80 years old and above with personal knowledge of the centenarian’s actual age or date of birth; old school or employment records showing date of birth of centenarian; baptismal and/or confirmation records as certified by a parish church and/or religious denominations; medical and/or dental examination issued by government/private doctors or dentists; and other related documents.
A barangay certificate showing the residency of the centenarian is also required.
The CSWDO and OSCA shall use existing databases, such as the annual subsidy, Davao Safe QR code, record of OSCA-issued senior citizen IDs, roster forms, and DSWD records. Both offices shall also conduct the verification of the identified centenarians and will form part of the grievance committee.
Each barangay captain or barangay social worker is also mandated to submit every last week of January beginning 2021 the list of centenarians and those who are 99 years old in their areas.
The EO also provides that in case of incapacity, the submission of documents may be done by a representative who is the nearest centenarian’s kin with a notarized authorization.
The release and awarding of incentives shall be held during the National Respect For Centenarian’s Day every first Sunday of October every year or during the centenarian’s 100th birthday, whichever comes first.
For the full provisions of EO 20, Series of 2022, check https://dcstaging.davaocity.gov.ph/transparency/executive-orders/2022-2/. CIO
