THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reinforced the warning of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) against false claims involving ATM card distribution and illegal deductions from cash gifts intended for senior citizens. The NCSC, a supervised agency of the DSWD, is mandated to promote and safeguard the rights and welfare of elderly Filipinos, including the implementation of centenarian cash gifts. The advisory was issued following the circulation of an online video claiming that ATM cards had been approved for indigent senior citizens nationwide. Authorities said the NCSC has not issued any ATM or bank cards to senior citizens for the purpose of claiming assistance, pension, or cash gifts. The commission also debunked claims that a pilot bank transfer system would involve the distribution of bank cards to beneficiaries. DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao echoed the NCSC’s call for vigilance, stressing the importance of protecting elderly beneficiaries from misinformation and financial exploitation. “We stand with the NCSC in this reminder, and it is crucial that information regarding the benefits of our senior citizens is clear because many of them rely on these programs for their needs, and we must not allow them to be deceived by false news or baseless collections,” Dumlao said. The commission clarified that the bank transfer system currently being implemented in selected regions is only an optional mode of claiming the P10,000 or P100,000 cash gift under the Expanded Centenarians Act for milestone ages 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100. It emphasized that the P10,000 cash gift must be received in full without any deduction, and that any form of collection or request for payment in exchange for the benefit is illegal and punishable by law.