Davao City to honor around 30 centenarians this October

The Davao City government will give out plaques and cash incentives worth Php 100,000 to each of the validated 30 centenarians in the city on October 3, 2022.

Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office Head Atty. Marlisa A. Gallo, in an interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio Monday, September 26, 2022, said that this is part of the implementation of City Ordinance No. 0727-21, Series of 2021, also known as “An Order Honoring Centenarians in the City of Davao” with approved Implementing Rules and Regulations signed last May 13, 2022.

“Apart from the cash incentive they will receive a plaque of appreciation, mao na ang pinaka-unod sa maong ordinance (Apart from the cash incentive they will receive a plaque of appreciation, that is the very meat of the ordinance),” Gallo said.

She added that senior citizens will receive the incentive on top of the incentive given by the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Ang mahitabo ani niya lahi ang madawat sa DSWD, lahi pud ning sa atoa, mao ning biggest challenge dapat makaabot [ka ug 100] kay Php 200,000 tanan: Php100,000 sa DSWD and Php 100,000 sa CSWDO (What will happen is what they will also receive from DSWD a separate from what we will give. The biggest challenge is that they should reach 100 to receive Php 200,000: Php100,000 from DSWD and Php100,000 from CSWDO,” Gallo said.

Gallo said that to qualify, the awardee must be 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 Davao City.

Gallo said that based on their validated list, the oldest Dabawenyo is 114 years old and 24 out of 30 are women.

She added that the number of awardees may still increase should more centenarians get validated and qualify for the cash grant.

“Sige lang gihapon tag validate as of now, na-inform napud mi sa DSWD nga naay nag-birthday nga wala namo naapil sa among listahan, kana paningkamutan namo na mahabol. If dili mahabol paningkamutan namo nga mahatag sa ilaha (We are still validating as of the moment and we were also informed by the DSWD that some who were not on our list also celebrated their birthdays and we will do our best to include them. If we cannot, then we will do our best to give to them),” she added.

Those who are validated after the awarding may still claim the incentives. They only need to accomplish the application form from CSWDO-District Office and present a birth certificate or passport. Otherwise, primary and secondary IDS are also acknowledged.

More details for the IDs needed to be presented can be found in Executive Order No 20, Series of 2022 which can be accessed here: https://dcstaging.davaocity.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/EO-20-2022.pdf

She underscored that recognizing centenarians is important because it is rare for people to reach that age.

“Muabot anang edara it is an indication that you are living a healthy life, ato ni siyang ipromote pag-ayo (Reaching that age is an indication that you are living a healthy life, this is something we should really promote),” Gallo said. CIO