Forty-four centenarians in the Caraga Region received PHP100,000 each through the Republic Act (RA) 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016 in 2022, an official said Monday.

Marko Davey Reyes, DSWD-13 information officer, said the releases of the centenarian gifts were made after thorough validation and strict compliance with the guidelines of the centenarian program.

“Among the releases, we made during the last quarter of last year were in November in Agusan del Sur and Dinagat Islands,” he said.

At least PHP4.4 million worth of cash gifts were disbursed under the centenarian program in the region last year.

Concepcion Galigdong of Rosario, Agusan del Sur, who turned 100 years of age, received her centenarian cash gift of PHP100,000 on Nov. 8 of 2022.

Later in the same month, another centenarian, Maria Delima from San Jose, Dinagat Islands, also received her cash gift.

Of the total centenarians who received their gifts last year, 13 were from the province of Surigao del Sur, 10 from Agusan del Norte, eight from Agusan del Sur, eight from Surigao del Norte and five from Dinagat Islands province.

In a statement Monday, the DSWD-13 lauded local government units (LGUs) in the region that replicated the Centenarian Act by providing gifts and finances to the centenarians in their respective localities.

“We encourage the other LGUs to do the same through allocating a budget as an additional gift for their centenarians,” the DSWD-13 said.

R.A. 10868 entitles all Filipinos who reach 100 years old and above, whether living in the Philippines or abroad, to receive a centenarian gift worth PHP100,000. (PNA)