Republic of the
Philippines
Province of
______________
City/Municipality of
________
Barangay Council of
__________
Ordinance No. _______
An Ordinance Providing for Additional Mechanisms to Support
the Implementation of Social Protection Programs and Services
of the Government for Senior Citizens/Older Persons
WHEREAS, there is a regular 5-year Philippine Plan of Action for
Senior Citizens (PPASC) developed and promulgated in compliance with our
commitments under the Macau Regional Plan of Action, the Madrid Programme of
Action, and the Shanghai Implementation Strategy where there are seven (7)
major areas of concern, including health and nutrition as well as financial
security of older persons;
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2010 seeks to address the needs of the elderly sector
and provide social protection to Filipino older persons through various
government assistance;
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently directed
through its Regional Framework on Ageing and Health that different Western
Pacific States should look into their healthcare systems and develop responsive
interventions for ageing and health;
WHEREAS, under RA 9994, the Social Pension Program and Mandatory
PhilHealth Coverage for senior citizens are two (2) of the most important and
availed of benefits by Filipino older persons;
WHEREAS, while the National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local
Government Units (LGUs) are the primary duty-bearers in ensuring the efficient
and effective implementation of the programs, there is a need for additional
human resources and support mechanisms to assist the current operations and staffing
contingent;
WHEREAS, one of the greatest assets of the Filipino elderly sector
is its organized communities of senior citizens under various federations,
associations, and other civil society groups, able and willing to work for the
interests and welfare of their fellow older persons;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE SANGGUNIAN IN SESSION ASSEMBLED:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE – This
Ordinance shall be known and cited as the “Support Mechanisms for Social
Protection Programs for the Elderly”.
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY
– The Philippine Constitution mandates that the State shall promote a rising
standard of living and an improved quality of life, and at the same time
prioritize the needs of the underprivileged, such as the elderly.
Republic Act No. 9994 also states
that it aims to give full support to the improvement of the total well-being of
the elderly and their full participation in society.
SECTION 3. OBJECTIVES – Towards
this end, this Ordinance seeks to:
a. Recognize
the importance of supporting social protection programs for the elderly and
ensuring their efficient and effective implementation by providing all
necessary assistance and resources;
b. Enjoin
senior citizens organizations and other civil society groups who are willing
and able to assist in the implementation of the Social Pension Program and
mandatory PhilHealth coverage;
c. Formalize
specific institutional arrangements at the local or community level which have
been effective mechanisms in reaching out to the target beneficiaries;
d. Promote
transparency and accountability in the efficient implementation of social
protection programs;
e. Ensure
accessible and equitable availment of resources and benefits under government
programs.
SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS – For
the purpose of this ordinance, the following terms shall be defined as:
a. Senior
Citizen – A Filipino citizen and resident who is at least sixty (60) years old
or older, who may be entitled to rights and benefits under RA 9994, including
social pension and mandatory Philhealth coverage; It may be used
interchangeably with elderly and/or older persons.
b. Social
Pension – The monthly stipend of P500 granted to indigent senior citizens who
are sick, frail, disabled, without any pension benefits, no permanent or
regular source of income, nor receiving any financial assistance from family or
relatives to support his/her basic needs;
c. Mandatory
Philhealth Coverage - The healthcare
coverage granted to all senior citizens under RA 9994 and its amendment RA
10645, regardless of economic status to ensure that healthcare is accessible
and available to all Filipino elderly;
d. Senior
Citizens Organizations (SCO) – A collective of local senior citizens organized
officially as a federation, association, or People’s Organization (PO) with
registration at the Securities and Exchange Commission or as an affiliate,
and/or with LGU registration;
e. Civil
Society Organizations (CSO) – A general term for all private sector groups
catering to specific underprivileged or marginalized populations, which are not
from the business or industry sector;
f. OSCA
Head – The Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) Head is a senior citizen
from one of the legitimate local senior citizens groups nominated and duly
appointed to be primarily responsible for ensuring that senior citizens in
their locality enjoy all their rights and privileges under the law;
g. C/MSWDO
– The local social welfare and development officer (LSWDO) lodged with the city
or municipality level who works closely with OSCA Heads in implementing elderly
programs and services;
h. Regional
Social Pension Unit (RSPU) – The social pension unit lodged with Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional/Field Office responsible for
coordinating the implementation of the Social Pension Program with the LGUs.
SECTION 5.
ADDITIONAL MANPOWER – To ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the
programs, and to address the difficulty of having limited human resources, the
LGU shall:
a. Activate
and authorize all available barangay workers (i.e., barangay health worker, Day
Care worker) to assist in the verification and validation of potential elderly
beneficiaries;
b. Encourage
and recognize senior citizens organizations or civil society groups (i.e., church/parish
organizations, sectoral or human rights NGOs) who are willing to assist in the
identification and referral of potential beneficiaries;
c. Maximize
linkages and interface with existing local councils or committees organized by
the LGU like the Gender and Development (GAD) Focal, Violence against Women and
Children (VAWC) Desk, or Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BHRAC) who may
also have some referrals
SECTION 6. CONSTITUTION OF
SUPPORT MECHANISMS – The Mayor, upon the recommendation and initiative of the
OSCA Head and C/MSWDO or senior citizens groups, may authorize the constitution
of additional committees such as but not limited to initial screening/verification
committees, local grievance machinery, senior citizens task force, etc. to
assist and provide administrative support in the implementation of the
programs.
SECTION 7. DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS – The following shall be the authorized acts
of the above-mentioned stakeholders:
a. Senior
Citizens organizations and other civil society groups may refer potential
beneficiaries from their own Membership Rolls who they believe are qualified
under the programs. They may also assist in verifying the eligibility of the
target beneficiaries based on the requirements stated in the guidelines and the
standard General Intake Sheet/Registration Form. SCOs and CSOs may likewise
conduct their own independent advocacy activities to create awareness about the
program. However, they are not in a position to use their discretion and outrightly
reject any application, and must forward all applications for final assessment
by the OSCA Head and C/MSWDO.
b. Barangay
Workers such as barangay health workers and Day Care workers, if it will not
conflict with their regular duties, may be requested and authorized to assist
in the verification of potential beneficiaries based on the requirements stated
in the guidelines and the standard General Intake Sheet (GIS)/Registration
Form. They are not in the discretionary position to reject any application and
must forward all applications for final assessment of the C/MSWDO and OSCA Head.
c. The
OSCA Head and C/MSWDO must ensure that all applications are registered in their
LGU database, so that potential beneficiaries are able to access all available
resources and programs they are entitled to besides social pension and
PhilHealth. Granted the authority to conduct They are the only ones who are
empowered to use their discretion in accepting or rejecting any applications,
and must duly notify in writing the applicants of their decision of whether or
not they are to be included in the “masterlist” to be transmitted to DSWD for
possible funding and inclusion in the Social Pension program. As for PhilHealth
coverage, upon request of authorized PhilHealth officials, they may share their
database or record of Senior Citizens ID card issuances to facilitate
registration and inclusion in the PhilHealth database.
d. The
DSWD, through its Field Office – Regional Social Pension Unit (RSPU) shall
conduct regular advocacy, orientations and briefings on the above-mentioned
programs with the LGUs to raise awareness and propagate correct information to
the public, and more importantly to train and capacitate other stakeholders
willing to assist.
SECTION 8. COORDINATION WITH THE
LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR – To further facilitate the efficient implementation of
the programs, the OSCA and C/MSWDO may regularly coordinate with the Local
Civil Registrar on the following:
a. To
facilitate the issuance of a (Late Registration) Birth Certificate for senior
citizens without any documentation which can be used as basis for the issuance
of a Senior Citizens ID;
b. To
waive necessary fees for copies of other relevant documentation like marriage
certificates or their children’s birth certificates as additional documents to
prove the age and identity of a senior citizen for the issuance of a Senior
Citizens ID;
c. To
submit to the OSCA a list of recently deceased senior citizens based on the Death
Certificates registered with them;
SECTION 9. RELEVANT RULES AND
GUIDELINES – This ordinance shall be enforced according to and only in
compatibility with the existing Social Pension and PhilHealth guidelines and
issuances. Any conflict or confusion shall be resolved in favor of the latter
program guidelines which shall prevail.
SECTION 10. APPROPRIATION – To
sustain the noble objectives of this ordinance, the initial amount of ________________is
hereby allocated to be charged against the administrative funds implementing
these programs.
SECTION 11. SEPARABILITY – If any
provision or part hereof shall be held invalid, the remaining provisions of
this ordinance shall remain valid and subsisting.
SECTION 12. EFFECTIVITY – This
ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval.
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