Package of benefits up for solo parents

CEBU, Philippines – Soon solo parents in Cebu City and their children can already avail of a package of benefits from the city government.

This after the Ordinance allocating funds for the development and implementation of the Cebu City Comprehensive Package of Social Development and Welfare for the Services for Solo Parents and their Children, authored by Councilor Gerardo Carillo, was heard without opposition yesterday.

Councilor Lea Japson, co-sponsor of the Ordinance, said that the law would translate statutes of Republic Act 8972 into actual benefits for single parents and their children.

Two speakers – one from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 and another from the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority – both vouched for the passage of the Ordinance in yesterday’s public hearing.

Rosemarie Salazar of DSWD-7 said that the act of the city government to appropriate funds for the Ordinance is very laudable.

Belen Yntig of TESDA said that the agency is more than willing to do its part in the extension of benefits to solo parents and their children.

According to the position paper submitted by TESDA, it will undertake various skills training for the solo parents.

They will also make sure that the solo parent graduates land in either wage employment or self employment through micro entrepreneurship after their graduation.

An initial P500,000 is appropriated to begin the implementation of the Ordinance.

According to the Ordinance, the benefits to be availed by the solo parents and their children will range from livelihood development services, counseling services, stress debriefing and other special projects.

A solo parent is defined as a parent left alone with responsibility of parenthood because of the death of a spouse, abandonment for one year, physical or mental incapacity of partner, unmarried, imprisonment, or a woman who gives birth as a result of rape or crimes against chastity even without final conviction of the offender. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)