ORDINANCE NO: 2024-594 Sponsored by: Honorable Ma. Alicia Elena V. Ariosa "AN ORDINANCE GRANTING SOCIAL PENSION TO INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZEN IN THE CITY OF PAGADIAN" WHEREAS, Article XV, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippines Constitution provides that the family has the prime duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just programs of social security; WHEREAS, R.A. 7432 otherwise known as the "Senior Citizens Act", as amended, provides for policies granting benefits and special privileges to Senior Citizens in the country, to include the release of social pension to indigent ones; WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 458 (5) (XIV) of the Local Government Code, the City of Pagadian is empowered to enact ordinances providing for the care of the elderly and other marginalized persons; WHEREAS, relative thereto, the City Government of Pagadian deemed it proper and appropriate to grant social pension to indigent Senior Citizens living in the city with no other social pensions from national government agencies; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD (14TH CITY COUNCIL) IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, THAT: SECTION 1. Title. - This ordinance shall be known and cited as "An Ordinance Granting Social Pension To Indigent Senior Citizen in the City of Pagadian." SECTION 2. Purpose and Objectives. - This Ordinance aims to bestow and grant social pension to senior citizens in the City of Pagadian who have no existing social pension granted by any national government agencies. This initiative aims to enhance and augment their resources to meet their basic health and economic needs. SECTION 3. Definition of Term. - For purposes of this Ordinance, the following terms are defined as follows: Senior Citizen - refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old; Indigent - refers to any impoverished person unable to afford basic necessities of life; Social Pension - refers to monetary grant from the national government to support the daily subsistence and medical needs of senior citizens; SECTION 4. Scope and Coverage. - This Ordinance shall cover One Thousand Four Hundred (1,400) indigent Senior Citizens in the City of Pagadian who have not availed social pension from any government agency. The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in coordination with the Office of the City Mayor shall determine the list of qualified beneficiaries to avail such pension. In the event that the identified beneficiary shall be later included in the national budget for indigent social pensioners, the said beneficiary shall be replaced with another qualified beneficiary. The list of the qualified beneficiary to replace the previous one, must be provided and verified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). SECTION 5. Social Pension. - All qualified indigent Senior Citizens shall be awarded with a quarterly social pension in the amount of One Thousand (P 1,000.00) Pesos. SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. - The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), in coordination with other necessary and indispensable offices, shall be the lead implementing agency for this Ordinance. SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Ordinance shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All ordinances and administrative circulars and executive orders or parts thereof which are found to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed and amended accordingly. SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Ordinance shall immediately take effect after fifteen (15) days of posting thereof in at least two (2) conspicuous places in the City of Pagadian. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (14th City Council) during its 98th Regular Session held on 20 November 2024 at the SP Session Hall, 4th Floor City Commercial Center Building, Santiago District, Pagadian City.