WHEREAS, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought extreme pressure to the country affecting all walks of life in calamitous magnitude which spared no one, including the employees, both permanent or temporary, as well as the job order workers of the City Government of San Juan;
WHEREAS, San Juan City Hall employees have been working extra hard amidst the pandemic to deliver the best services an LGU can offer its constituents;
WHEREAS, San Juan City vaccinated the fastest and highest rate in the Philippines, with over 200% of our target population now fully vaccinated. Despite slowing down after reaching our goal, we never stopped vaccinating and even made headways, now vaccinating children 12-17;
WHEREAS, with some of our constituents needing aid, our employees answered the call to action by working shifts packing rice and other foodstuff and then delivering the food packs right at the doorstep. San Juan City also leads in the greatest number of food packs provided to its constituents with 17 waves, a far lead to other LGUs;
WHEREAS, social and government services, peace and order, environmental activities were never stopped despite the risk of the pandemic to our employees. Hard at work, San Juan City Hall employees reported to work and observed proper health and safety protocols, not just to protect themselves and their families, but also to make sure public service is never stopped;
WHEREAS, the LGU of San Juan City received a recognition from the Healthy Pilipinas Award for its advocacy program "Ako ay San Juaneño, Bakunado at Protektado";
WHEREAS, the LGU is a Gold Awardee for TB Treatment Success Rate last March 24, 2022;
WHEREAS, the LGU received an award on the recently concluded 2019 Child Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA);
WHEREAS, the City ranked 3rd in the National Capital Region in the Philippines in the Year-on-Year Growth in Locally Sourced Revenues for Fiscal Year 2020-2021;
WHEREAS, the City ranked 4th in the National Capital Region and 10th in the Philippines in Collection Efficiency of Locally Sourced Revenues for Fiscal Year 2021;
WHEREAS, San Juan City ranked 1st in NCR for its Vaccination Program with 245.35% fully vaccinated adults; 91.47% fully vaccinated (5-11 years) and 101.07% first booster for adults;
WHEREAS, last October 27, 2022, San Juan City received various awards under five (5) categories such as: Functional Local Peace and Order Council; Moderately Functional Anti-Drug Abuse Council; Ideal Functionality Local Committees on Anti-Trafficking and Violence against Women and Children; Child Friendly Local Government Unit and Moderate Compliance in the LGU Compliance Audit for Manila Bay Clean-Up Rehabilitation and Preservation Program on the last 2022 Urban Governance Exemplar Award that was conducted by the DILG-NCR;
WHEREAS, Section 16 of the Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991) provided that “Every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare”;
WHEREAS, Article 99 of Administrative Order No. 270 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that “The Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative body of the city, shall enact ordinances, approved resolutions and appropriate funds for the general of the city and its inhabitants pursuant to Sec. 16 of the Code …”;
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court has upheld the power of Local Government Units (LGUs) to grant additional allowances and benefits to their officials and employees citing the “state policy of local autonomy” as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution under Section 25, Article II and Section 2, Article X;
WHEREAS, the City distinguishes the valuable role of all employees and officials in its continuous progress and growth, and hereby recognizes, appreciates, and rewards their hard work and good governance by granting them economic welfare assistance to be considered as other personnel benefits.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINEDAS IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of San Juan, Metro Manila, in a session duly assembled that:
Section 1. All officials, employees, and staff of the City Government of San Juan, Metro Manila, regardless of the status of employment, and those contracted under Job Order Service/Contract Service hired as of October 31, 2022, shall be entitled to a minimum of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) or equivalent to one (1) month of their basic salaries subject to the provisions of Sections 2, 3 & 4 hereof.
Section 2. The City Government employees and staff who are qualified to receive Economic Welfare Assistance are the following:
a) Those who rendered at least a total of an aggregate of four (4) months of service including leave of absence with pay as of October 31, 2022;
b) Those who are on approved leave without pay but have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four (4) months of service provided they are not yet dropped from the rolls;
c) Those who have rendered less than four (4) months of service, but subject to the limitations imposed by Section 4 hereof;
d) Personnel who are formally charged with administrative and/or criminal cases which are still pending for resolution, shall be entitled to Economic Welfare Assistance until found guilty and meted penalty, subject to the item € hereof;
e) Personnel found guilty and meted the penalty for an administrative or criminal office shall not be entitled to Economic Welfare Assistance in the year the decision was issued by any disciplining authority. If such personnel received any Economic Welfare Assistance herein but should thereafter be found guilty and penalized for an administrative and/or criminal case, he/she shall refund any Economic Welfare Assistance received on the year such benefit was given;
f) If the penalty meted out is only a reprimand, such penalty shall not disqualify the personnel concerned to receive Economic Welfare Assistance;
g) This Ordinance shall apply to all employees presently employed at the time of approval of this Ordinance.
Section 3. Government personnel who have rendered less than four (4) months of service as of October 31, 2022, shall be entitled to Economic Welfare Assistance to be fixed at the maximum amount of Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000.00) subject to the provision of Section 4 hereof.
Section 4. The Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby authorizes the City Mayor to utilize savings from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and Personal Services (PS) for this purpose.
Section 5. The City Treasurer shall set aside the necessary funds to cover the Economic Welfare Assistance and disburse the same, subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures and further, subject to availability of funds.
Section 6. The authority, issuance, and approval hereof is subject to compliance with existing laws and COA rules and regulations on appropriations, expenditures and procurement.
Section 7. Repealing Clause- The provisions of existing ordinances, executive orders and other issuances or portion thereof which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, modified and amended.
Section 8. Separability Clause- If any part or provisions of this Ordinance be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts of provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 9. Effectivity – This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval.