History was made as the Local Government of Tacurong awarded for the first time P100, 000 cash incentive to a centenarian in addition to the same amount given by the National Government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In total, the only Centenarian Awardee this year, Soledad Nono Libo-on of EJC Montilla, received P200,000.00.
Born on August 1, 1920, Soledad is a mother to eight (8) children and a grandmother to forty-one (41) grandchildren.
According to Soledad’s eldest offspring, the 71-year old Remedios Libo-on – Dejilla, her mother withstood living through the years by keeping a healthy lifestyle: avoiding meat and only eating fish and vegetable dishes such as her favorite, “laswa.”
It is evident that Lola Soledad has well-taken care of her body since her knees are still quite strong to walk with minimal support despite of her old age.
Though memories of her daughters get mixed up sometimes, she can still vividly recall her youngest child, Rodrigo Libo-on, whom according to her will receive a tricycle from the 200,000 pesos given to her by DSWD and LGU-Tacurong.
This 2020, DSWD has recognized fifty-four (54) centenarians all throughout the region and Soledad is the last awardee to date.
In the city, Soledad is the 11th centenarian recognized by the LGU since the enactment of R.A 10868 in 2016.
The awarding last December 1, 2020 follows the mandate of the Republic Act No. 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016 where the National Government must award P100, 000 cash incentives to Filipino citizens who have reached the age of 100 as an act of honoring them.
This year’s additional P100, 000 cash incentive was made possible through the initiative of City Mayor Hon. Angelo O. Montilla and the funding of City Mayor’s Office.
Mayor Montilla encouraged everyone in the venue to take care of their old ones, not because of the monetary reward from the government but because when all else fail, all we have are our families.
The program at the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) was also graced by the DSWD XII Regional Representative Lavinia Bañes, City First Lady Cora Montilla, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Eufemia Robles, OSCA Head Lorenzo Ysulat, Jr., Population Program Officer Jesus Hinayhinay, and Josephine Tizon, RSW representing City Councilor Lalaine Montilla who was at an equally important committee meeting that time. (DEC, LGU-TacInfo)