Solo parents told to register now to get cash aid

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo is urging all solo parents in the city to register in their respective barangays to possibly avail of the P5,000 cash assistance from the city government starting next year.

Carillo, who authored City Ordinance 2935 (Solo Parent Ordinance), said the registration is meant to know how many they are in the city.

 “Atong giawhag tanang barangays nga maghinay-hinay na og register sa tanang (I encourage all barangays to start registering all) solo parents this month until October 30 for them to be able to avail of the cash assistance,” he said, adding that there are no requirements during the registration in the barangay.

Carillo, who also heads the council committee on social services, said the ordinance will be beneficial to all residents in the city for as long as they are qualified.

“Wala ni siya’y politikahay, tanan maka-avail pero kailangan pud nato ipa-validate sa DSWS (Department of Social Welfare and Services) kun qualified ba sila under the ordinance,” he said.

He said that DSWS has started the orientation and briefing on the ordinance in some barangays.

“Nag-conduct nami og orientation per barangay. We started in (Barangays) Pahina San Nicolas, Sawang Calero, and Suba (today),” he said.

 “Under the ordinance, qualification niya is one must be a voter for three consecutive years, he or she must be a resident of Cebu City, and the income must be P60,000 below,” Carillo said.

He said the city government needs P10 million for the financial assistance for solo parents and some P20 million for the package which includes giving capitalization to the qualified individual for them to conduct livelihood programs. (FREEMAN)