LGUs told: Enforce Solo Parent’s law

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 has continued its advocacy on solo parents’ welfare to cater to more beneficiaries in Central Visayas.

Daisy Lor, DSWD-7 focal person on family, said in the weekly “Kapihan sa PIA” that the provisions of the Solo Parent’s Welfare Act or RA 8972 aims to inform them about the law and to also encourage the national agencies and the local government units to strengthen the implementation of the law and continue providing services for the welfare and protection of the solo parents.

“The act provides benefits and privileges to solo parents and their children. Its primary objective is to give solo parents the chance to rebuild themselves,” said Lor, in a press statement.

Under this act, solo parents are given comprehensive social development and welfare services that include: livelihood development services, counseling services, parent effectiveness services, and critical incidence stress debriefing.

Educational benefits are also offered under this act, wherein solo parents and their children can avail of scholarship programs from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Under the law, solo parents are also entitled to a seven-working day parental leave once they have already rendered at least one year of service.

Lor explained that a solo parent is any individual who falls under the following categories:

* a woman who gives birth as a result of rape or crimes against chastity, provided that the mother keeps and raises the child

*a parent who is left alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to death, spouse is detained or is serving sentence for criminal conviction for at least one year, physical or mental incapacity of spouse certified by a public medical practitioner, legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for at least one (1) year as long as he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children, declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage as decreed by a court or by a church as long as he/she  is entrusted with the custody of the children

*unmarried mother/father who has preferred to keep and rear her/his child/children instead of having others care for them or give them up to a welfare institution

*any other person who solely provides parental care and support to a child or children

* any family member who assumes the responsibility of head of family as a result of the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of the parents or solo parent.

Lor has encouraged those who want to avail of the services and benefits under this act to visit their respective city or municipal social welfare and development office for application, assessment, other inquiries and issuance of solo parent ID.

Based on the DSWD-7’s latest data, Central Visayas has 68,667 solo parents - 17,782 of them are males, while 50,885 are females.

Central Visayas includes the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.  GAN (FREEMAN)