Cagayan de Oro City Council is now reviewing the proposed ordinance institutionalizing the programs, services, privileges and benefits for solo parents and their children, as provided for under Republic Act 8972 known as the Solo Parent Act 2000.
Councilor Edna Dahino, committee chair on women and family relations and author of the proposed legislation, pointed out that solo parents must be able to avail of the benefits and privileges afforded to them by law.
For the purpose of this ordinance and pursuant to RA 8972, solo parent refers to unmarried, separated, annulled, widower and widowed individual and person falling under the enumeration provided under Section 3 (a), RA 8972 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, who has taken the sole responsibility of parenthood, including women who became pregnant due to sexual abuse and those whose spouses are detained or are physically or mentally incapacitated.
The proposed law provides that the city government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) shall undertake a city-wide registration of all the solo parents and their children in the city for the purpose of obtaining information on their names, ages, addresses, income, number of children, among others.
The CSWD shall then issue a Solo Parent Identification Card, which shall be considered as competent evidence of identity and membership, as well as of the entitlement to the benefits.
The proposed ordinance provides that in addition to welfare services, privileges and benefits provided by law, solo parents and their children shall be entitled to tertiary scholarship assistance, basic educational services, housing services, death or burial assistance, livelihood and employment assistance.
It also mandates the creation of a Solo Parent Desk and Solo Parent Organization to develop a comprehensive social development and welfare program, among others and requires the city’s 80 barangays to establish their respective Solo Parent Program and provide necessary funds for the purpose. (sp)
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