GOOD news to the Filipino elderly.

Senator Bong Revilla, Jr. recently enacted his “Revilla Law” (Republic Act 11982), also known as the Expanded Centenarian Act, which was recently signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last February 26.

In the original Centenarian Act (Republic Act 10868) signed into law last 2016, elderly citizens who reach the age of 100 are given a cash gift of P100,000.

But thanks to the “Revilla Law,” senior citizens, particularly octogenarians and nonagenarians need not reach 100 to avail of government cash assistance.

Under the “Revilla Law,” elderly citizens aged 80, 85, 90 and 95 will be given a cash stipend of P10,000.

However, the law only applies to elderly citizens anticipating their 80th, 85th, 90th and 95th birthdays. In other words, a 93-year-old elderly can look forward to getting his cash incentive when he turns 95, but he can no longer expect to claim his stipends for his 80th, 85th and 90th birthdays.

The new law applies to elderly citizens who are natural born Filipino citizens, whether residing in the Philippines or living abroad.

The “Revilla Law” effectivity date shall be retroactive 15 days upon publication of the signed law in the official gazette or newspaper of general circulation.

To avail of the benefits, qualified elderly citizens are advised to enlist at the nearest Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), with their birth certificate, senior citizen card or other valid government IDs.

Senior citizens can also register at the Elderly Data Management System under the auspices of the National Commission on Senior Citizens.

According to Senator Revilla, it has always been his fervent dream to champion the plight of the Filipino elderly citizens, specifically by giving them much-needed financial assistance at the soonest possible time.

“We all know that not many of our lolos and lolas actually live long enough to reach a hundred years old, so why do we have to wait that long to give them their just rewards?,” Revilla said.

“Besides, this was something that I promised to them way back and I’m glad that I was able to fulfill that promise within my term.”

As part of his advocacy for the aged, Senator Revilla reiterated that his ongoing fight for the welfare of elderly citizens, does not end with the enactment of the “Revilla Law.”

To date, the senator is also pushing for the enactment of SBN 262 or the “Abot-Kayang Gamot, Bitamina at Gatas Para sa Malusog na Senior Citizens Act,” that aims to expand the grant of 20 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax currently enjoyed by senior citizens to include other items such as supplements, vitamins, herbal products, formulated milk, among others.

Senator Revilla also filed SBN 1573 recommending lowering the mandatory age of senior citizens to 56, as opposed to the presently mandated age of 60.