ORDINANCE NO: 2024-581
Authored by: Hon. Sam Tyra F. Co
"AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MORAL RECOVERY AND RENEWAL PROGRAM, PROVIDING THEREIN THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CITY OF PAGADIAN"
WHEREAS, Section 27, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, Declaration of Principles and State Policies, provides that "The state shall maintain honesty, integrity in the public service and take positive measures against graft and corruption;
WHEREAS, Proclamation No.62, series of 1992, declares a moral recovery program as an integral aspect to ensure success in the economic development and people empowerment program and projects;
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 319, series of 1996, directs all government departments, offices, agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations to institutionalize the Moral Recovery Program through the establishment of integrity circles or any similar mechanism to prime moral recovery transformations among government employees;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD (14TH CITY COUNCIL) IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, THAT:
SECTION 1. TITLE. - This Ordinance shall be known as the "Pagadian City Moral Recovery and Renewal Program."
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. - It shall be the policy of the City Government of Pagadian to:
Envision a city that is God-centered, people-empowered, prosperous local community living in unity, justice, freedom, love, and peace governed by a visionary government that is democratic, responsive and effective, graft-free, transparent and self-corrective with a community of civil and military servants who are professional, competent, disciplined and trustworthy;
Envision public officials and employees that observe at all times accountability to the people, and discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest;
Strengthen the moral resources of the employees rooted in the Filipino culture, values, and ideals that are Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Maka-Bayan, and Maka-Kalikasan;
Respect the right to freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in Section 5, Article III of the Philippine Constitution, which states that "the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed."
SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - For purposes of this Ordinance, the following words, terms or phrase shall be construed as follows, to wit:
Institutionalization - refers to the official recognition, acceptance, and inclusion of the Moral Recovery Program in the training/development programs and structures of all departments, and offices to allocate adequate and regular budget.
Moral Recovery and Renewal Program (MRRP) - refers to the national campaign for moral renewal that includes the objectives, strategies, and cumulative experiences generated in the course of implementing Presidential Proclamation No.62 dated September 30, 1992, which is being adopted by the City Government of Pagadian.
Integrity Circle - refers to the basic operating unit of the MRRP Team whose members are representatives from different religious denominations.
Moral theology - refers to the Christian theological discipline concerned with identifying and elucidating the principles that determine the quality of human behavior in the light of Christian revelation.
Islam - refers to the name given by God Almighty to the religion revealed by Him to the Holy Prophet Muhammad through the Holy Qur'an which means the attainment of peace through the surrender of one's will to the Will of Allah.
SECTION 4. CREATION OF THE MRRP CORE GROUP. - The MRRP Core Team under the Office of the City Mayor is hereby created as the implementing arm of the moral recovery and renewal program in the City of Pagadian.
4.1. The composition of the MRRP Core Team shall be as follows:
Executive Program Director - City Administrator
Program Director - Moral Recovery Officer
Operation and Support Services Staff - Two (2) Support Staffs
Human Resource Management Office - Member
Integrity Circle - Member (Representatives from Religious Sectors)
4.2 Duties and Functions of the MRRP Core Team - The MRRP Core Team shall have the following duties and functions:
Implement the MRRP in a voluntary capacity;
Formulate Moral Recovery and Renewal Programs and policies to ensure that Christian and Islamic beliefs shall be accorded separate programs to be approved by the Local Chief Executive;
Formulate, review, and revise when it is necessary, an inclusive annual Moral Recovery and Renewal Program for Christians and Muslims broken into monthly sessions, and recommend the same for the approval of the Local Chief Executive;
Facilitate the continuing implementers' training, workshops, and seminars;
Conduct monitoring and assessment of the MRRP monthly session; and
Perform other duties and functions.
Meetings
4.3.1 Regular Meeting - Every 2nd Monday of the month shall be the regular meeting schedule.
Special Meeting - Special meetings may be called upon by the Executive Program Director as often as necessary.
4.3.3 Attendance - Every regular/special meeting a member is duty-bound to attend.
SECTION 5. MORAL RECOVERY AND RENEWAL PROGRAM OFFICER. - The MRRP Officer who possesses sound character and integrity shall be designated by the Local Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the MRRP Team to work and collaborate with the members of the Integrity Circle.
SECTION 6. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT
MRRP Team
Provide technical/logistic support and issuance of policies to the Integrity Circle to ensure that the conduct of MRRP shall be without religious discrimination and doctrinal attacks on one's owned belief and religion;
Evaluate and review the MRRP proposal submitted by the Integrity Circle;
Monitor the implementation of the MRRP and submit accomplishment and assessment reports to the Local Chief Executive;
Organize and forge a Memorandum of Understanding with the Integrity Circle members; and
Provide uniform and identification cards to the members of the Integrity Circle for purposes of membership recognition and other purposes.
Integrity Circle
Organize and act as the basic operating unit of the Moral Recovery and Renewal Program in the City Government of Pagadian;
Work with the MRRP Team on the preparation of the MRRP program;
Execute with the Receiving Department and Office down to the Barangay level in the City of Pagadian;
Assign Pastors or Lay Ministers to perform the MRRP in the City Government of Pagadian and the barangays; and
Submit the prescribed monitoring report and the list of MRRP attendees to the MRRP Officer.
SECTION 7. DURATION.
For the department and/or combined offices, the moral recovery and renewal program shall be for a minimum of thirty (30) minutes computed from the start of eight-fifteen (8:15) in the morning either on Thursday or Friday once every week. Except, when necessary, an inclusive MRRP schedule shall be allowed with the same duration subject to the recommendation of the MRRP Team and approval of the Local Chief Executive.
For the flag ceremony, the moral recovery and renewal program shall be for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes.
SECTION 8. PROHIBIT ACTS. - The following acts shall be prohibited in the implementation of the Moral Recovery and Renewal Program, viz:
Any member of the Integrity Circle is prohibited from propagating one's religious beliefs at the expense of other religious groups; and
Any member of the Integrity Circle is prohibited from criticizing, arguing, or debating one's religious belief against the belief of other religions.
SECTION 9. FUNDING. - Appropriation may be funded as may be determined by the Local Chief Executive and the Local Finance Committee to implement the Moral Recovery and Renewal Program.
SECTION 10. REPEALING CLAUSE - Any local laws, ordinances, resolutions, and issuances or part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed repealed or amended accordingly.
SECTION 11. EFFECTIVITY. - This Ordinance shall immediately take effect after fifteen (15) days of posting thereof in at least two (2) conspicuous places in the City.
ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (14th City Council) during its 90th Regular Session on 18 September 2024 at the SP Session Hall, 4th Floor City Commercial Center (C3), Santiago District, Pagadian City.