86 Bulakenyo centenarians receive cash incentives, certificates of appreciation
CITY OF MALOLOS – Aside from God’s blessings of having long life, 86 Bulakenyo centenarians were awarded with certificates of appreciation and cash incentives by the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) amounting to P10,000 each for the 30 newly identified centenarians and P3,000 each for the previously recognized centenarians.
The awarding of the cash incentives and certificates of appreciation was held yesterday during the “Pagkilala at Pagpapahalaga sa mga Sentenaryong Bulakenyo at Pagdiriwang ng Linggo ng Katandaang Pilipino” at The Pavilion Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in this city wherein Regional Director Gemma Gabuya of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region III participated as the guest of honor.
Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said that the PGB allotted the said day to impart to the centenarians that they are still valuable part of the community.
“Sana po, sa pamamagitan ng munting pagtitipon at pagsasalu-salong gaya nito ay mapasalamatan kayo, maparangalan, mapagpugayan, kilalanin at itaas ng isang sambayanang tapat na tumatanaw ng di-matingkalang utang ng loob sa inyong mga nagawa at naiambag sa ikapapanuto at ikauunlad ng bayan, sa malaki o maliit mang kaparaanan, nag-iisa man o sa pakikisanib sa ibang may kaparehong adhikain,” Alvarado said.
He said they served as the ‘lights and pillars of the home’, inspiration to others and a great source of valuable lessons due to their colourful experiences.
The governor also encouraged the office of the Senior Citizen’s Affairs to think and create more worthy projects that could help more the senior citizens and even their office.
Prior to this, 45 Bulakenyo centenarians already received P100,000 cash gift from the national government and additional cash incentives and certificates of appreciation from the PGB last May 2017 wherein P10,000 were given to newly identified centenarians while P3,000 were given to previously recognized ones.
Gabriela Ileto, a centenarian from Pulong Tamo, San Ildefonso, also expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the additional blessings that she received including a new wheelchair, diaper, blanket, alcohol and foods like oatmeal and biscuits.
Meanwhile, the new set of officers of “Kaagapay ng mga may Kapansanan (KASAMA KA) sa Bulacan para sa mga Bulakenyo”, an organization of persons with disability in the province headed by their president, Ariel Manalad, took their oath of office.
According to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Rowena Tiongson, the said recognition for the centenarians is on its 4th year and is being conducted yearly in accordance with the Republic Act No. 10868 or the “Centenarians Act of 2016”.