Members of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the proposed social pension for senior citizens and PWDs.*SP photo
Members of the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved the proposed social pension for indigent senior citizens and persons with disabilities during their regular session Wednesday, October 19.
Councilor Celia Flor, chair of the SP committee on senior citizens and veterans affairs, said this is her promise to the citizens during the campaign period, and she is very thankful to her colleagues for supporting the passage of the measure.
Flor, one of the main proponents of the measure, said there is an ongoing validation and updating of the senior citizens’ database in the city to determine their actual number.
Under the ordinance, the city government of Bacolod, in its Annual Appropriation Ordinance, shall appropriate an amount of P100,000,000 under the City Mayor’s Office for the implementation of the program.
Qualified indigent senior citizens are those who do not receive any form of contributory pension, as well as individuals receiving not more than P5,000 monthly from a contributory pension (Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Social Security System) and the social pension program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; have no permanent source of income, compensation, or financial assistance from relatives to support his/her basic needs; and must be a registered voter and a resident of Bacolod City for at least one year.
For PWDs, they must be a registered voter and a resident of Bacolod City for at least one year to qualify for the program.
Senior citizens or PWDs applying for the social pension must present their proof of identity and residence, status, and indigency.*