Camarines Sur 5th District Representative Migz Villafuerte has praised the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) for transitioning to digital payments for cash gifts under the Expanded Centenarians Act (ECA).
Villafuerte, who chairs the House Committee on Information and Technology, noted that the shift streamlines benefit distribution, making it faster and more convenient for elderly Filipinos while modernizing public services.
“Our senior citizens deserve a system that recognizes their contributions and respects their time and dignity. They should not have to spend an entire day traveling and lining up just to receive the cash gifts due to them,” he said.
“Making these benefits accessible through digital payment channels is a practical way to ease that burden and ensure that government assistance reaches our elderly beneficiaries with greater convenience,” Villafuerte added.
Villafuerte co-authored the measure that became Republic Act 11982, or the Expanded Centenarians Act of 2024, alongside former Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative and current Provincial Governor LRay Villafuerte. Under the law, senior citizens receive a ₱10,000 cash gift upon turning 80, 85, 90, and 95, and a ₱100,000 cash gift upon reaching 100 years old.
The electronic distribution system was established through a Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement between the NCSC and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). Qualified beneficiaries can access updated claim forms via the NCSC website and select their preferred disbursement method. Available payout channels include LANDBANK accounts, other nominated bank accounts, verified e-wallets such as GCash, Maya, and MariBank, as well as remittance centers like Palawan Pawnshop, Western Union, and MLhuillier.
In addition to financial assistance, Villafuerte highlighted the NCSC’s collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to roll out a digital senior citizen ID via the eGovPH Super App.
Citing data from the commission, Villafuerte reported that as of October 13, 2026, the NCSC has disbursed approximately ₱2.236 billion to 210,956 ECA beneficiaries nationwide.