70 Senior citizen grantees in Butuan thank PBBM for P10K cash gift
By Niña Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Seventy senior citizens in Butuan City who have reached the milestone ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95 went home with smiles on their faces as they each received P10,000 cash gift during the Handog ng Pangulo service caravan on September 13 at the SM City Butuan Events Center.
The cash distribution was a nationwide event of the National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC) which brought together the eligible grantees pursuant to Republic Act 11982 or the ‘Expanded Centenarians Act’—a landmark Philippine law which was signed by President Ferdinand ‘BongBong’ R. Marcos Jr. in 2024, enhancing the benefits granted to senior citizens under the original ‘Centenarians Act of 2016’ or Republic Act 10868.
An 81-year-old senior citizen, Chorlita Agsolo, expressed her utmost appreciation to the President for approving R.A. 11982 which allowed the release of the P10,000 cash gift to them. “Daghan kaayong salamat sa atong Presidente kay dako na gayud kini nga tabang para kanamong mga senior citizen nga makadawat ug kwarta para sa among mga panginahanglan (Thank you very much to our President since this is already a very big help for us, senior citizens—to be able to receive a cash gift to aid us in our daily needs),” she said.
Despite her age, Agsolo still goes out of her way to help her family in any way she can. According to her, she will be using the P10,000 cash gift to start her own small food business near their residence. This way she will be able to have an income of her own.
Another senior citizen who just got out of the hospital a few days prior to the Handog Ng Pangulo service caravan became emotional while sharing her sentiments on the challenges faced by senior citizens like her, but at the same time conveying her gratitude for such government intervention for their vulnerable sector.
“I am super thankful to the President for the cash gift we received today. So many promises have already been given to senior citizens but it is only under the administration of PBBM that his promise to us has been turned into a reality,” said Flocerfida Atendido, one of the grantees.
“I was recently admitted in a private hospital for seven days, and as expected my bill ended up being so high. Because of this, I really had a hard time buying my medicines. And if it weren’t for this cash gift, I would still be waiting for another month to receive my next pension allowance and buy my lacking medicines,” she tearfully added.
These are just two of the thousands of stories among the Filipino elderly. As a family-oriented country, the government continues its mission to promote the welfare of this vulnerable sector through interventions such as this.
Attorney Florence June D. Bantugan, regional director of NCSC Caraga, shared that they have already released the said cash gift to over 2,400 grantees since the enactment of R.A. 11982 in 2024. “Our cash gift distribution is still ongoing. In fact, for the month of October 2025, we will be disbursing around 43 million worth of cash gifts to more than 4,000 grantees in Caraga region alone.”
More than its monetary value, Dir. Bantugan emphasized that this assistance will also empower senior citizens, especially those who belong to low-income families, as they are able to buy their own medicines and help their families financially.
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is really giving his all-out support to our senior citizens, hence, his signing of the R.A. 11982 into law. As such, we at NCSC also share the same advocacy as the President which is to protect and foster the welfare of our elderly,” he further added. (NJGD/PIA Caraga)
