Overseas Filipino Centenarian Awards and Incentives | Commission on Filipinos Overseas

1. Background

Also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016, Republic Act 10868 “An Act Honoring and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians, and For Other Purposes,” honors and grants additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians. This law took effect on July 15, 2016.

Under this, all Filipino centenarians, whether residing in the Philippines or overseas, shall be honored with a centenarian gift in the amount of Php100,000 and a Letter of Felicitation from the Philippine President congratulating the Filipino centenarian for his/her longevity. Moreover, as part of the annual Elderly Filipino Week celebrated from October 1 to 7 of every year, the first Sunday of October is declared as National Respect for Centenarians Day.

Overseas Filipino centenarians are included in the implementation of the law. They are Filipino citizens living outside the Philippines who have reached one hundred (100) years old and above, including those who have obtained another citizenship and later reacquired Philippine citizenship under Republic Act 9225.

2. Legal issuances

3. Guide on availing the awards and incentives

a. Complete guide on availing the awards and incentives

b. Eligibility

All Filipino citizens living in the Philippines and abroad, who reached 100 years old before July 15, 2016, the date that RA 10868 took effect, and those who reached 100 years old thereafter.
A deceased Filipino centenarian who died after the effectivity of RA 10868 is still entitled to the awards and incentives.

On the other hand, a centenarian who is already a naturalized citizen of another country must first re-acquire his/her Filipino citizenship through RA 9225 to become eligible.

c. Requirements

For living Filipino centenarians:

Duly accomplished application form (see forms);
Photocopy of valid Philippine passport;
Photocopy of citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Certificate, Identification Certificate, and/or Order of Approval Certificate, and/or Oath of Allegiance Certificate (if dual citizen); and
Philippine peso-denominated bank account details of the Filipino centenarian, or if not available;

One (1) original and two (2) certified true copy of Special Power of Attorney (SPA) authorizing the attorney-in-fact to receive/deposit or encash the centenarian’s gift in check and send the said amount to him or her, in any means possible

ii. For deceased Filipino centenarians

1. Duly accomplished application form;
2. Photocopy of valid Philippine passport;
3. Photocopies of citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Certificate, Identification Certificate, and/or Order of Approval Certificate, and/or Oath of Allegiance Certificate (if dual citizen);
4. Death certificate of centenarian;
5. Photocopy of valid identification card of the nearest surviving relative;
6. Proof of relationship with the deceased centenarian, such as certificate of live birth, certificate of marriage, or any other document of the nearest surviving relative that would establish his/her relationship with the centenarian; and
7. In case there are various nearest surviving relatives (e.g. children), one (1) original and two (2) certified true copies of a special power of attorney authorizing a representative (claimant) to receive the centenarian gift on behalf of all of them;
8. The claimant should also execute a warranty and release from liability form (see forms).

d. Application process

The nearest surviving relative of the Filipino centenarian can apply on his/her behalf. In this case, the representative is required to present the following documents in addition to the documentary requirements:

i) Letter of authorization signed by the centenarian, and/or medical certificate for bedridden overseas centenarian; and
ii) Original valid identification card with photograph of the representative.

Applications should be submitted through the Philippine Embassies or Consulates which have jurisdiction over the area where the centenarian resides. The application documents will then be forwarded to the CFO in Manila through the DFA.

4. Forms

5. Status of applications

6. News and press releases

(June 2020) Advisory – Incentive for Filipino Centenarians- Philippine Consulate General in Calgary
(May 2020) Advisory – Incentive for Filipino Centenarians – Philippine Consulate General of Ottawa, Canada
(May 2020) Advisory – Incentive for Filipino Centenarians – Philippine Consulate General of Vancouver, Canada
(May 2020) Public Advisory – Awards and Incentives for Filipino Centenarians – Philippine Embassy in the USA
(February 2020) 4 senators seek to amend the Centenarian Law – The Manila Times
(April 2019) 102-year-old grandpa acquires dual citizenship at PH Honolulu consulate – Philippine Daily Inquirer
(January 2019) House Panel OKs Cash Gifts for Senior Citizens Aged 85, 90, and 95 – Inquirer.net
(June 2017) The Philippine Flag l Filipino Centenarians, Scholars, Artists and Artist Groups in Victoria – Philtimes: Australia’s Filipino Newspaper
(May 2017) Centenarians increasing worldwide; benefits await those born in PH – Philippine Daily Inquirer
(April 2017) Filipino Centenarians Living Abroad may Receive P100K each – Philippine Daily Inquirer
(April 2017) PHP 100K Cash Incentive Now Available for Filipino Centenarians Living Abroad – Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, USA
(March 2017) PHP 100K Cash Incentive Now Available for Filipino Centenarians Living Abroad – Embassy of the Philippines New Delhi, India

7. Contact information

a. Commission on Filipinos Overseas

c/o the Policy, Planning and Research Division
Telephone number: (+632) 8552-4760 to 767
Email address: info@cfo.gov.ph; pprd@cfo.gov.ph; pprd.cfo@gmail.com
Address: Citigold Center, 1345 President Quirino Ave., cor. Osmeña Highway, Manila, Philippines 1007

b. Department of Social Welfare and Development

c/o Program Management Bureau
Telephone number: (+632) 8931-9141; (+632) 8931-8101 locals 407-410
Email address: pmb@dswd.gov.ph
Address: Batasan Complex Constitution Hills, 1126 Quezon City, Philippines

c. Department of Foreign Affairs

Office of American Affairs
Telephone Number (+632) 834-3954
Email address: oaa@dfa.gov.ph
Address: 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines 1300

Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Telephone number: (+632) 8834-4996
E-mail address: oumwa@dfa.gov.ph; oumwa.database@gmail.com
Address: 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines 1300

d. Philippine Veterans Affairs Office

c/o Finance Division and Veterans Records Management Division
Telephone number: (+632) 911-6001 local 5597; (+632) 8291-3012; (+632) 8294-9245;
Email address: vrmd.customercare@pvao.gov.ph
Address: Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Compound, Col. Boni Serrano Avenue, Quezon City Philippines 111