AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE ROXAS SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, INSTITUTIONALIZING CAPACITY BUILDING, MARKET SUPPORT, AND ENTERPRISE SUSTAINABILITY MECHANISMS THROUGH ACCREDITED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

WHEREAS, the Municipality of Roxas recognizes that livelihood and enterprise development are vital strategies in reducing poverty, increasing household income, promoting productive employment, and building self-reliant communities;

WHEREAS, while the Local Government Unit, through the Public Employment Service Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and partner agencies, has continuously conducted livelihood trainings, financial literacy sessions, and enterprise monitoring, many beneficiaries still experience business failure, weak income generation, and discontinuance of livelihood projects due to poor financial discipline, limited market access, lack of technical mentoring, and absence of sustainability mechanisms;

WHEREAS, experience has shown that one-time livelihood assistance, without proper enterprise readiness assessment, continuous business coaching, product development, and market support, often results in low survival rate of assisted enterprises and inefficient utilization of public funds;

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Welfare and Development through its Sustainable Livelihood Program, as well as Republic Act No. 9509 or the Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act, recognize that livelihood development must go beyond skills training and include business capability, organizational strengthening, product promotion, and market linkage;

WHEREAS, the Municipality likewise recognizes the important role of accredited organizations, people’s organizations, cooperatives, women’s groups, youth groups, farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous communities, and other vulnerable sectors as partners in implementing sustainable community-based livelihood interventions;

WHEREAS, Section 16 and Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, empower municipalities to adopt measures that promote social welfare, economic prosperity, and community-based development, including livelihood assistance and employment-generating programs;

WHEREAS, there is therefore an urgent need for the Municipality of Roxas to institutionalize a sustainable livelihood and enterprise development framework that integrates capacity building, enterprise viability assessment, mentoring, market linkage, and performance-based monitoring to ensure long-term income generation and enterprise survival among beneficiaries;

SECTION 1. TITLE — This Ordinance shall be known as the “Roxas Sustainable Livelihood and Enterprise Development Ordinance of 2026.”

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY — The Municipality shall:

• Promote sustainable and inclusive livelihood development;
• Ensure that livelihood funds result in long-term income generation;
• Strengthen accredited organizations and people’s organizations as implementation partners;
• Empower women, youth, farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable sectors; and
• Establish systems for mentoring, market linkage, and enterprise sustainability.

SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS — For purposes of this Ordinance:

• Livelihood Program — income-generating activities supported by the LGU;
• Enterprise — a business or income-generating undertaking;
• Accredited Organization (AO) — a duly recognized organization accredited by the LGU;
• Community Organization (CO) — a people’s organization, association, or cooperative at barangay level;
• Beneficiaries — qualified individuals or organized groups receiving support;
• Business Viability Assessment — evaluation process to determine enterprise sustainability and beneficiary readiness;
• Enterprise Rescue Intervention — technical and market support for struggling assisted enterprises;
• Performance-Based Monitoring — monitoring based on measurable business outcomes.

SECTION 4. CREATION OF THE PROGRAM — There is hereby established the Roxas Sustainable Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program (RSLEDP).

SECTION 5. OBJECTIVES — The Program shall:

• Provide financial literacy education;
• Equip beneficiaries with proposal development and entrepreneurial skills;
• Develop marketing and business promotion capacity;
• Ensure sustainability of enterprises;
• Strengthen community-based livelihood systems; and
• Increase household income and reduce poverty.

SECTION 6. CORE PROGRAM COMPONENTS — The Program shall include:

• Financial Literacy and Record Keeping;
• Proposal Development and Fund Access;
• Marketing and Business Promotion;
• Enterprise Mentorship and Technical Assistance;
• Product Development and Market Linkage; and
• Enterprise Rescue and Sustainability Support.

SECTION 7. IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH ACCREDITED ORGANIZATIONS — The LGU shall partner with accredited organizations and community organizations to assist in beneficiary identification, training, mentoring, and monitoring.

SECTION 8. ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS — Organizations shall be duly registered and accredited by the Sangguniang Bayan and the appropriate National Government Agencies. They must have a proven track record in implementing livelihood, community development, or related programs, and shall submit a duly prepared implementation plan for the proposed project or activity.

SECTION 9. BUSINESS VIABILITY AND BENEFICIARY READINESS — No beneficiary or organization shall receive livelihood assistance unless:

• Completed mandatory trainings;
• Submitted a proposal or business plan; and
• Passed a Business Viability and Beneficiary Readiness Assessment.

SECTION 10. BENEFICIARY ACCOUNTABILITY — All beneficiaries shall sign a Livelihood Commitment Agreement undertaking to:

• Use assistance solely for approved livelihood;
• Submit monthly records; and
• Attend mentoring and monitoring sessions.

A Municipal Non-Compliant Beneficiary Registry shall likewise be maintained for beneficiaries who abandon, misuse, or fail to comply with accountability requirements.

SECTION 11. CREATION OF THE LIVELIHOOD AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (LEDC) — The Council shall be composed of:

• Municipal Mayor — Chairperson
• SB Chair on Social Services/Livelihood — Co-Chair
• MEMBERS
• SB Chair on People’s Organization
• People’s Council President
• PESO Manager
• Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator
• MSWDO Head
• Municipal Treasurer
• Representatives from DOLE, DTI, DSWD, DA and TESDA
• Cooperative Sector Representative
• Accredited Organization Representative
• GAD Focal Person
• SLP Focal Person
• LEDIPO
• Municipal Agriculture Office Head

SECTION 12. FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL — The Council shall:

• Approve livelihood programs and proposals;
• Accredit partner organizations;
• Order enterprise rescue interventions;
• Establish annual municipal livelihood priority industries; and
• Recommend policies and funding support.