Solo parents to get more benefits in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines —  Solo parents in Mandaue City will soon enjoy programs tailored to their specific needs and not just those provided for under the national law.

This, after the City Council has passed an ordinance institutionalizing the programs, services, privileges and benefits for solo parents and their children pursuant to Republic Act 8972 of the Solo Parent Act of 2000.

“With variations gamay to tailor-fit sa local situation and there is no implementing agency sa Solo Parent Act that’s why gi-localize nato,” said Councilor Joel Seno, the author of the proposed ordinance.

Seno, who chairs the committee on laws and ordinances, said the ordinance is now waiting for the signature of Mayor Jonas Cortes.

In addition to the welfare services, privileges and benefits provided by law, the ordinance also provides solo parents and their children privileges and benefits from the city government. These include free college education at Mandaue City College wherein at least 10 percent of every batch of incoming scholars shall come from the ranks of the children of indigent solo parents.

Under the draft ordinance, children of indigent solo parents are priority for inclusion in the city’s basic education programs in the pre-school, elementary and secondary level, including the Special Education Program.

The measure says that no less than five percent of the beneficiaries in any new housing site under the city’s Socialized Housing Program should come from the ranks of the solo parent’s subject to the program’s requisites; provided that the beneficiaries equity requirements shall be reduced to 50 percent of the prescribed amount but the remaining half shall nonetheless be paid in the manner set by applicable city ordinance, regulation or policy.

An indigent solo parent and his/her child shall be entitled to a death benefit or burial assistance of P5,000, without prejudice to increasing the same at the mayor’s discretion when the city’s budget so permits.

An indigent solo parent or his/her child(ren) shall be also prioritized in all the medical assistance programs.

Also, solo parents shall have priority in the grant of livelihood assistance under any of the city’s applicable programs or projects, subject to the qualification requirements under existing ordinance, rule and regulation.

The measure says that solo parents shall have priority in the employment programs of the City Government subject to job matching based on qualification and experience; and other services, privileges and benefits that the city is currently giving or may subsequently offer.

The City of Mandaue, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office shall undertake a city-wide registration of all the solo parents and their children in the 27 barangays of the city and the CSWDO shall cause the issuance of a Solo Parent Identification Card.

Change of civil status shall automatically result to the disqualification from any privileges under the ordinance, except under housing benefits when the beneficiary remains qualified under other existing or applicable ordinance, rules, policies and programs of the city. — JMD (FREEMAN)