ON the occasion of Solo Parents Day, the northern Mindanao Social Welfare and Development department hosted an empowering event for solo parents at The SPOT in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.
The event, held on April 22, 2024, brought together fifty participants from the Municipality of Lagonglong for a day filled with learning and skill-building.
The gathering was designed to provide practical training and information about the Solo Parents Welfare Act to solo parents, barangay officials, and Barangay Violence Against Women (VAW) focal persons.
The DSWD Field Office 10’s community-based section representatives, Honey Grace Mendoza and Mae Singganon, led the orientation.
They thoroughly briefed the attendees on the key aspects of the Solo Parents Welfare Act, such as the benefits solo parents can avail themselves of, the process for obtaining a Solo Parents ID, and the content of the solo parents’ booklet.
The event was not only about legal knowledge but also about practical solutions to enhance the livelihood of solo parents.
In partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lagonglong, DSWD-10 collaborated with the Department of Agriculture (DA-10) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-10) to provide participants with insights into income-generating activities.
Ronald Allan Camaddo, an Agriculturist from DA-10, took the stage to share his expertise in urban gardening techniques, such as container gardening, vertical gardening, and hydroponics.
These methods offer efficient ways to produce food in limited spaces, making them particularly suitable for solo parents looking to supplement their family’s food supply or start a small-scale agricultural venture.
In the same vein of fostering self-reliance, Ronelyn Macalam, an Instructor from TESDA-10, demonstrated the process of making Taro chips and Binangkal – two local delicacies that could serve as potential small business ideas for the solo parents in attendance.
In his opening remarks, DSWD-10 protective services division chief Zosimo Butil emphasized the significance of understanding the Solo Parents Welfare Act.
He also noted the importance of the new law’s implementation phases, which aim to improve the support system for solo parents in the region.
The Solo Parents Day event marked a significant step toward empowering a vulnerable segment of society.
By combining legal education with practical skills training, DSWD-10 is actively contributing to the betterment of solo parents’ lives, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive. (With a report from DSWD-10)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
