The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is urging Mayor Greg Gasataya to implement the social pension for Persons with Disability (PWDs) as mandated by City Ordinance No. 1010, Series of 2022.
The ordinance, also known as the “Bacolod Social Pension for Seniors and PWDs Ordinance,” includes both senior citizens and PWDs as beneficiaries.
The call for implementation was made in a resolution authored by Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, who chairs the SP Committee on PWD Affairs, and co-authored by Councilors Celia Flor and Em Ang.
The resolution supports expanding the social pension to include PWDs, who are equally identified as beneficiaries in the ordinance.
Authored by Councilor Flor, City Ordinance No. 1010 provides a monthly financial assistance of ₱500 to qualified indigent senior citizens and PWDs.
To be eligible for the assistance, individuals must meet the following criteria:
• They must not be receiving pensions from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), or the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
• They must not have a permanent source of income or support from family.
• They must be registered voters and residents of Bacolod City for at least one year.
Distrito emphasized the need for equity in the ordinance’s implementation.
“The City has already rolled out the social pension for our senior citizens in 2024 and this year. It is now imperative that the same support be extended to qualified PWDs who were also clearly identified as beneficiaries of the ordinance. This is a matter of both fairness and compassion,” he said.
Flor, the author of the landmark ordinance, stated that its full implementation is a crucial step toward inclusive social protection.
“This ordinance was passed to provide direct relief to two of our most vulnerable sectors—seniors and PWDs. Both deserve our government’s full attention and support,” Flor said.
Ang added her support, highlighting the broader vision of the local government for social equity.
“We must ensure that no vulnerable sector is left behind. This is part of our continuing commitment to a caring, inclusive, and people-centered governance,” she said.