Manila: Senior citizens eligible for cash gifts under the Expanded Centenarians Act will soon receive their benefits through faster and more secure digital payment channels following a new partnership between the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank).
According to Philippines News Agency, the agreement was signed by NCSC chairperson and CEO Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez and Landbank President and CEO Lynette Ortiz on July 1, with NCSC Acting Executive Director IV Ana Marie Calapit and Landbank Executive Vice President Marilou Villafranca as witnesses. The Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement was signed to institutionalize the nationwide digital distribution of cash gifts under Republic Act 11982.
The law grants PHP10,000 to senior citizens who reach the milestone ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95, and PHP100,000 to those who reach 100 years old. In a news release Monday, Gutierrez stated that the partnership is meant to bring government support closer to elderly Filipinos by removing the usual barriers in claiming benefits. 'By modernizing our financial delivery systems, we are not just distributing funds; we are actively eliminating barriers, reducing long lines, and delivering dignity, security, and respect to our older population,' she said.
Under the arrangement, qualified beneficiaries with existing Landbank accounts may have their cash gifts directly credited to their accounts. The cash gifts may also be released through Landbank's weAccess internet banking facility and bulk crediting system, PISO Plus Account, LANDBANK Visa Debit Card, or other nominated bank accounts. Senior citizens without Landbank accounts may open one through the Landbank Mobile Banking App or the Digital Onboarding System at any Landbank branch, reducing the need for lengthy paperwork.
Meanwhile, Ortiz commented that digital banking should be measured not only by speed and technology but by its ability to protect vulnerable sectors. 'At Landbank, we believe that true development is not merely measured by technological advancement, but by how effectively we use it to protect and care for the vulnerable sectors of our society,' Ortiz said.
For 2026, the NCSC is set to disburse more than PHP3 billion in cash gifts to around 299,000 beneficiaries under the Expanded Centenarians Act. As of May 2026, the commission has already served 75,922 grantees nationwide, with total cash gifts reaching PHP801.79 million. The partnership supports the Marcos administration's digital governance agenda by shifting the delivery of senior citizens' cash incentives to electronic payment channels that are expected to be faster, safer, and more accessible.
