DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental - The Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) of Dumaguete City has reported that from January to November 4 of this year, approximately 745 senior citizens aged 80 to 99 have received a longevity award of ₱10,000 each, amounting to a total disbursement of ₱7.4 million.

Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo explained that this longevity award, granted under a local ordinance, serves as an additional benefit for senior citizens in their 80s and 90s.

The financial aid helps address maintenance needs and stands as a token of appreciation for the elderly, who have significantly contributed to the growth and progress of Dumaguete City.

One notable beneficiary of the program is 87-year-old Corazon Maxino, former first lady of Dumaguete City. For bedridden or immobile recipients, personnel from the City Treasurer’s Office personally deliver the cash award, while those who are still able to travel may claim their benefits at City Hall.

Under the program, senior citizens become eligible for the ₱10,000 longevity award upon reaching 80 years of age, with an additional grant every five years thereafter. Upon turning 100, centenarians receive a ₱50,000 longevity award from the City Government, supplementing the ₱100,000 provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for a total of ₱150,000.

Eligible senior citizens are encouraged to process their documents with OSCA in Barangay Talay to be included in the next payout.

In addition to the longevity award, Mayor Remollo highlighted other benefits available to qualified senior citizens in Dumaguete City. These include a social pension, free movie passes, medical and hospitalization assistance, burial assistance (including a free casket and embalming), mortuary assistance, Unconditional Cash Transfer, and the annual Pamaskong Handog program.