President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11981, or the Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act, and RA 11982, granting benefits to octogenarians and nonagenarians.

“Today, it’s my honor to sign into law two bills which not only honor two key sectors of society, but mandate measures that protect their rights and promote their development,” Marcos said in his speech during the signing of the two bills at Malacañan Palace’s Ceremonial Hall.

“Each of these laws encapsulates the merits that the Bagong Pilipinas uphold toward building a strong nation. For example, the Tatak Pinoy Act is about investing in Filipino competence and talent. That genius and gift must be supported, not by exhortation alone but by true, tangible support,” he added.

The Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act aims to strengthen the partnership between the government and the private sector towards promoting Philippine goods and services by making these increasingly diversified and globally competitive.

Marcos said Tatak Pinoy gives incentives to local products that deserve to carry the “Made in the Philippines” trademark, showing the creativity and skills of the Filipino worker.

“It is about creating products and services of the highest quality, because Tatak Pinoy is also about excellence, and as a seal of great workmanship, it must only be applied to those that meet this high standard. As such, we shall give preference and priority to our products,” he said.

RA 11982 or the Amendments to the Centenarians Act of 2016, meanwhile grants monetary benefits to octogenarians and nonagenarians.

Through the expanded Centenarian Act, senior citizens aged 80, 85, 90 and 95, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, will receive PHP10,000 cash incentive every age milestone and will still receive PHP100,000 upon reaching 100 years old.

Marcos said the expansion of the coverage of the Centenarians Act is a homage to the Filipino trait of compassion, and in the Philippine culture, this shows more kindness and compassion to the elderly.

“But they deserve more than cash in an envelope. What they should get is a support infrastructure that every society owes to its greying population. There were already close to 10 million seniors two years ago … But as this demographic enlarges, the societal facilities that attend to them should be expanded as well,” Marcos said.

Honoring the elderly

Senators believe that the Expanded Centenarians Act shall have a huge impact on the lives of elderly Filipinos.

“Malaking bagay iyon para sa kanila lalo na’t may mga pangangailangan din sila at gastos para sa gamot, vitamins, supplement, pagkain at iba pa (It is a big thing for them especially for their expenses in medicine, vitamins, supplement, food, among others),” Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who authored the law, said in a statement.

Revilla explained the new law intends to provide cash benefits for Filipino octogenarians and nonagenarians “so that they would get to enjoy it more.”

He recalled filing the measure during the start of the 18th Congress in 2019 but failed to be passed into law.

The lawmaker assured that he will continue to push for the expansion of the 20 percent discount of senior citizens and exemption from value-added tax to include supplements, vitamins, herbal products, formulated milk, among others.

Revilla said he is also proposing to bring the age down to 56 years old to be considered as a senior citizen.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also lauded the signing into law of the Expanded Centenarians Act, saying “this provides recognition of the valuable contribution to society made by our elderlies.”

“The enactment of the measure is a tangible expression of our commitment to enhancing the well-being of our senior citizens and reflects our collective dedication to building a society that honors and supports every generation,” Gatchalian said in a separate statement.

House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said the signing of RA 11982 proved the government’s compassion for senior citizens.

“Maraming salamat po sa ating Pangulo sa pagbibigay importansiya sa mga matatanda nating kababayan (Thank you very much to our President for giving importance to our elderly folk),” Tulfo, one of the bill’s authors, said in a statement.

“Siguradong matutuwa ang mga senior citizen natin dahil sa panibagong benepisyo na kanilang matatanggap (Definitely, our senior citizens are happy with the additional benefits they will get),” he added. (PNA)