CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—At least 1,230 Pampanga-born senior citizens aged 95 and up have received a total of P123 million from 2015 to 2024 during the Dennis Pineda administration ahead of the Expanded Centenarian Act of 2024, reports from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) showed.
Their one-time cash incentive of P100,000 and congratulatory certificates were given through Provincial Ordinance No. 683, which was passed when the mother and son tandem of Lilia and Dennis Pineda served as governor and vice governor, respectively.
The Pineda administration gave the cash incentive 10 years ahead of the Expanded Centenarian Act of 2024, which gave financial aid to senior citizens at the landmark ages of 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old.
The program is one of the first provincial initiatives of its kind in the Philippines. The PSWDO regards Pampanga as a pioneer in giving ₱100,000 cash incentives not only to centenarians but also to those aged 95 and above.
In the Pampanga program, 585 senior citizens aged 95 and above benefited from the provincial program from 2022 to 2024 alone, with 200 recipients each in 2022 and 2023, and 185 in 2024.
The PSWDO facilitated the processing and distribution of the incentive, requiring beneficiaries to submit proof of age, Kapampangan origin or permanent residency in the province, and other supporting documents.
To address instances where beneficiaries pass away before receiving the assistance, then Gov.
Lilia Pineda instructed the inclusion of provisions in the ordinance that allow the amount to be processed as part of the estate, subject to existing laws.
Based on records in 2022 to 2024, the program served 51 beneficiaries in District I, with Mabalacat contributing 26 and Magalang 23. District 2 recorded a total of 145 beneficiaries over the same period, led by Guagua with 36, Lubao with 35, and Porac with 25. District 3 posted the highest number of beneficiaries at 202, with 72 from the City of San Fernando, 44 from Mexico, and 32 from Arayat. District 4 assisted 187 beneficiaries, including 53 from Candaba, 22 from Macabebe, and 20 from San Luis.
Gender-wise, the program assisted more female recipients: 160 in 2022, 159 in 2023, and 143 in 2024. The number of male beneficiaries was 40, 41, and 42 for the same years, respectively.
Pio Bagtas, a native of Mexico who reached 102 years old, said: “Dakal pung salamat kening binye yu pu kekami. Kalambat ku ne pung panenayan ini (Thank you so much for this help. I’ve long waited for this),” Bagtas told Gov.
Dennis “Delta” Pineda during a simple turnover of check at the capitol. On such occasions, Governor Delta gave wheelchairs to the elderly who cannot walk anymore.
Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda is at her happiest when she hands out the checks, hugging the elders or kissing their hands as a gesture of respect.
She gave this advice to their relatives: “Ibie yu pu ing lugud yu kareng kekayung pengari para lakas la at ela misasakitan. Kasi pu ikayu ing inspirasyun da.
Ikayu pu ing inspirasyun da king pamibie-bie, (Please love your parents so they can live longer and bear the pain of aging. You are their inspiration in going on with life).” Team Delta
