The Negros Occidental provincial government honored 45 centenarians and awarded five “outstanding Negrenses” in ceremonies commemorating the 119th Negros Day, or Cinco de Noviembre, Monday evening.

Centenarians, or those who have reached the age of 100, each received cash incentives of P100,000 from the provincial government during ceremonies at the Provincial Capitol.

Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the turnover of the cash, which is mandated by the Negros First Centenarian Act, passed back in 2015 that grants a one-time P100,000 cash incentive to the centenarians who have been residents of Negros Occidental for at least three years.

However, Bacolod City residents are not qualified.

In separate rites, five “outstanding Negrenses” were recognized, including Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero for government service, Gawad Kalinga founder and chairman Antonio Meloto for civic and humanitarian work, couple Joey Gaston and Christina Borromeo-Gaston for entrepreneurship and livelihood promotion, Ramon Hofileña for culture and arts, and Margarita Forés for culinary tourism./DGB, WDJ