The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office (FO) Caraga awarded two centenarians from Butuan City, February 17, 2023.

Lola Pacita T. Dumanon and Lola Mercedes M. Calo each received Php100,000.00, Certificates of Recognition, and Letters of Felicitation from the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

They were also given Php50,000.00 each from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Butuan City as the LGU’s counterpart in the implementation and replication of the Centenarian Program.

What is also in common between the two is that they have consumed their younger years to light the path of others.

Lola Pacita worked almost half of her life as a catechist teaching children in schools about Catholicism and the word of God. While Lola Mercedes retired as a school principal in Butuan Central Elementary School.

Present during the awarding ceremonies together with the Field Office Caraga were Ms. Josefa Tan Focal, Senior Citizen Butuan City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Ms. Christine Sabandal, PSO II, OSCA of Butuan City and the presidents of the different Senior Citizen Organizations in  Butuan City.

The Centenarian Program through Republic Act 10868 otherwise known as the Centenarians Act of 2016 entitles all Filipinos who reach 100 years old and above, whether living in the Philippines or abroad, a letter of felicitation from the President of the Philippines and a “centenarian gift” worth Php 100,000.