Senator Loren Legarda said that the proposed 2018 national budget includes funding for the pension of centenarians and the full payment of the pension arrears for surviving spouses of deceased World War II veterans.
Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said, “For the second year in a row, we are funding the Centenarians Act by allocating P189.5 million for a one-time cash grant of P100,000 each to 1,895 senior citizens aged 100 years and over.”
Under Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarian Law, Filipino citizens who are 100 years old and above will receive P100,000 centenarian gift from the government. The law was first funded under the 2017 budget, wherein P100 million was allocated to provide the cash grant to 1,000 centenarians.
Meanwhile, the veteran legislator said that the Senate has also allocated funds for the full payment of total administrative disability (TAD) arrears for the surviving spouses of World War II veterans.
“Our war veterans have served our country well. It is unfortunate that they were not able to receive the benefits due them. We should now aim to provide the pension the government now owes to their surviving spouses, who also suffered during the war,” the seasoned lawmaker stressed.
The lady senator said that the amount of P1.647 billion has been allocated under the proposed 2018 budget for the said purpose.
Moreover, the amount of P30 million has been allocated for the construction of a veterans hospital in Mindanao.
“Our valiant soldiers shed sweat and blood and sacrificed lives so we may live in liberty and freedom. Whether living or deceased, we should show them our respect and gratitude for the service they have rendered for our country by providing them the compensation and recognition rightfully due them,” Legarda concluded.