Sponsorship Speech
The Centenarian Bill
SBN 449; CRN 54
by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto

Mr. President:

This campaign to have this measure passed into law began a long time ago, in the last decade of the last century.

But it is not for this that it is called a Centenarian Bill, not yet, despite the fact that, if it were a person, it has been hobbling up the legislative maze in crutches.

This is called the Centenarian Bill because it proposes a package of benefits for those who have reached the age of 100 years.

Under this bill, when a person blows a hundred candles in his cake, he gets:

• A Letter of Felicitation from the President of the Philippines; and

• A Cash Gift of P100,000.

In short, the centenarian gets a birthday card from the leader of the land, who could probably borrow a quote from another president, Lincoln - "It's not the years in your life that counts, but the life in your years" - in his greetings.

As stipulated in the bill, with this greeting comes a gift of P100,000.

Some may bristle at the huge amount for the legislated ampaw. But, come to think of it, if based on how long he has been staying on earth, it comes up to something like P2.73 for every day lived.

The bill adds other party perks.

The city or town where the centenarian lives must give a plaque of recognition when he or she reaches the big 1-0-0.

In Makati, according to Senator Nancy, the cakes would be sweet but sugar-free, bigger in size but low in calorie.

And on every 25th of September they shall be feted, for that day shall henceforth be celebrated as the "National Respect for Centenarians Day."

Mr. President:

This is a "Take 2" for this bill. The first time Congress approved it was in April 2013. Unfortunately, it was vetoed by the President.

The presidential rejection was triggered by a section granting centenarians a 75 percent discount on certain goods and services they would buy.

To boost its chances of being signed into law, we have expunged this provision. Taking a cue from his veto message, we changed the language.

So hopefully, this time it would merit his concurrence. After all, legislation, like love, is sometimes more successful the second time around.

So we won't be spurned again, I would like to address, in advance, the concerns of the usual suspects who would lobby for the veto of this bill.

This bill will not burn a hole in the taxpayer's pocket.

There were just 4,728 centenarians in 2010, according to a projection of the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA).

And they will not be in our company forever. As their favorite joke goes, they're now in the departure gate of life, with boarding pass in hand.

The hurdle for the enjoyment of the benefits is so high that it can be compared to winning the genetic lotto.

The centenarians are so few, that if this bill will take effect this year, only those born in 1916 - when the Stars and Stripes was flying over the land, there was no airport yet in Manila, when the population was 7.7 million, only 4,400 cars were running in the whole country, the total money in circulation was P51 million, and the land on which this building stands was still part of the sea - could qualify.

These are.00454 percent of the population who have seen all our 15 presidents, lived through two world wars, witnessed our independence, survived hundreds of typhoons, and saw the birth of radio, telephone and television.

Mr. President:

There is also one institution which will turn 100 this year - this Senate.

And perhaps one way we can celebrate it, meaningfully, beyond coffee table books and commemorative stamps, is the passage of a law that will honor its fellow centenarians.

And when we do it, then we, its present occupants, would have also met one of the moral tests of government - of treating well those who are in the twilight of life.

On a personal note, I keenly look forward to the enactment of this bill so that eight years from now, when the youngest among us will celebrate the first year of his second century, he, given his legendary parsimony, will no longer have any excuse not to buy us lunch or buy himself an iPad 10 on which to play Bejeweled 5.

Mr. President, thank you very much and let us pass this bill.