• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance granting birthday cash gifts to senior citizens of Bacolod City, was recently passed on first reading by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Em Ang and co-authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos, said the City of Bacolod recognizes the invaluable contributions and sacrifices of its senior citizens in the development and progress of the community.
R.A. No. 9994, or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010”, mandates local governments to provide additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens, it said.
It is the city’s duty to promote the welfare and well-being of its senior citizens and ensure their dignity and rights are respected, the ordinance said.
Granting cash birthday gifts to senior citizens is a gesture of appreciation for their dedication and service to the community, it said.
The ordinance provides that a birthday gift of P1,000 in cash be granted to eligible citizens on his/her birthday. He/she must be a registered voter and resident of Bacolod City for not less than one year prior to his/her birthday.
He/she must not be earning more than P60,000 per annum, either as salary, pension, or business profit, or a combination thereof, at the time of his/her birthday. He/she must be a member of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and a holder of a Senior Citizens Identification Card, it said.
The Office of the City Treasurer, in coordination with OSCA, is mandated to adopt the necessary implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from the approval of this ordinance for its efficient implementation, and report the same to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the ordinance said.
The necessary funding requirement in order to effectively implement the objective of this ordinance will be appropriated and the same will be taken from the Annual General Appropriations or from any available funds of the city, subject to existing auditing and accounting rules and regulations, it added.*
