BACOLOD City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has approved a resolution urging the city government to immediately implement its social pension program for an initial 1,000 qualified persons with disabilities (PWDs) identified through barangay screening.
Authored by Councilors Caesar Distrito and Celia Flor, the resolution calls on the City Social Services and Development Department (DSSD) and the City Budget Office to take the necessary steps to implement and fund the program.
The proposed initial rollout will cover the first 1,000 qualified PWD beneficiaries identified by Barangay Screening Committees in coordination with the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO).
Distrito said the resolution aims to translate the city’s existing legislation into actual financial assistance for qualified beneficiaries.
“We have already enacted the law, and our barangays, through their Screening Committees and PDAO, have already undertaken the identification of prospective beneficiaries. The next important step is implementation,” he said.
The social pension program was established under City Ordinance No. 1010, Series of 2022, authored by Flor, which created a Social Pension Fund for qualified senior citizens and PWDs in Bacolod.
The ordinance provides monthly financial assistance to help beneficiaries meet their basic subsistence, medical and other essential needs.
The program’s PWD component was subsequently expanded under City Ordinance No. 1137, Series of 2026, or the “PWD Social Pension Reform Ordinance of Bacolod City,” authored by Distrito.
The amended ordinance broadened eligibility to include bedridden PWDs; those with cancer, terminal illnesses or severe health conditions; unemployed PWDs with at least two dependents; and those living alone or with another PWD or senior citizen.
It also covers children with disabilities, including those with autism and Down syndrome; individuals with epilepsy or chronic psychosocial disabilities; persons with visual impairment or blindness in both eyes; those with serious physical or orthopedic impairments; and persons who are deaf and unable to speak, subject to the ordinance’s requirements.
Qualified beneficiaries must have resided in Bacolod City for at least one year and meet the prescribed income requirement.
Distrito emphasized that the city government should begin providing assistance to the 1,000 already identified beneficiaries rather than wait until sufficient funding becomes available to cover all eligible PWDs.
“If we cannot immediately cover everyone, then let us start with the first 1,000 qualified beneficiaries. What is important is that we begin,” he said.
He added that the financial assistance could help beneficiaries and their families shoulder expenses for medicines, food, transportation, therapy and other daily necessities.
Under the resolution, the DSSD is urged to validate and register qualified beneficiaries in coordination with PDAO, barangays and other concerned offices.
Meanwhile, the City Budget Office is being asked to identify an appropriate funding source through the current or supplemental budget or provide the necessary appropriation in the succeeding annual budget, subject to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing regulations.
The resolution also seeks the progressive expansion of the social pension program to cover other qualified PWDs as additional funds become available./PN
