City allots P40M for solo parents

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City’s executive department has allocated P40 million for the implementation of the Solo Parent ordinance and the ordinance’s author, Councilor Gerardo Carillo, can only be thankful of the support.

The allocation is part of the proposed budget for Cebu City for 2015.

“Nalipay ko kay nakita nako ang support sa atong mayor kay ordinance naman gyod ni siya,” Carillo said.

City Ordinance 2935 or the “Solo Parent Ordinance seeks to grant an estimated 3,000 qualified solo parents P5,000 cash assistance next year.

Rama earlier vetoed the proposal, stressing that it is impracticable, discriminatory and violative of the equal protection clause guaranteed by the Constitution. The City Council, however, ruled over the veto.

“Wala man ta naka-file og declaratory relief, unya atong veto kay gi-override naman,” Rama said, adding, that there is no other recourse but to include the allocation for the assistance in 2015.

To prepare for implementation, Carillo said registration among solo parents is being conducted in the barangay level. Registration will end this month.

“We’re going around the barangays in the city to accept registrants aron ma-validate na nato sila as early as now in preparation for the implementation next year,” he said.

Carillo said Rama has designated him to oversee the implementation, which is headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Services, despite him not the head of the Council’s committee on social services.

DSWS started the orientation and briefing on the ordinance in some barangays.

“One of the qualifications ani is one must be a voter for three consecutive years, income should be P60, 000 below, and must be a resident of City of Cebu,” Carillo said.

“Pero mag-depende man pod ta sa validation ani, daghan ang nag-support sa solo parents and if makuwang atong gi-allocate for next year, pwede man pod nato i-supplemental budget,” he said. – Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/JMO (FREEMAN)