On its third and final reading, the House of Representatives approved a measure that increases the cash gift for Filipino centenarians who reach the age of 101 from P100,000 to P1 million.

A total of 257 voted for the approval of House Bill 7535 under which P25,000 will be granted by the lawmakers to Filipinos as they reach 80, 85, 90, and 95, regardless of whether they live here in the country or abroad.

The bill stated that all elderly persons would receive a letter of felicitation from the President of the Philippines.

Moreover, House Speaker Martin Romualdez explained that with the legislation, the House "would like to honor our countrymen for their years of service to the country and for their discipline in ensuring that they live a long, healthy, and fruitful life."

He noted that the octogenarians and nonagenarians take advantage of the benefits while they still can without waiting until they reach 101 years old, which is why they provided a cash gift for them.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the National Commission of Senior Citizens to implement the measure once it is enacted into law.

Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes earlier emphasized that only 1,000 senior citizens among 12 million avail of the P100,000 centenarian cash grant in pushing for the bill’s approval.

Ordanes further stated that widening the coverage of the cash grant would not only help them and their families financially but also boost the elderly’s morale.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the country has 662 centenarian Filipinos.

Meanwhile, aside from Ordanes, the measure's other primary authors include Reps. Jude Acidre, Sonny Lagon, Daphne Lagon, Brian Yamsuan, PM Vargas, Toby Tiangco, Salvador Pleyto, Roy Loyola, LRay Villafuerte, Loreto Amante, Jam Baronda, Eric Yap, Edvic Yap, Paolo Duterte, Migs Nograles, Lani Mercado-Revilla, and Gus Tambunting.