Navotas City government distributes cash subsidy to solo parents. (Photo Courtesy: Navotas PIO)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Some 381 solo parents in Navotas City on Thursday, April 18, received a cash subsidy under Republic Act 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.
The said distribution covers the period of January to March 2024, amounting to a total of P3,000 per beneficiary.
The local government issued City Ordinance No. 2023-40 for the rollout of the program through the Gender and Development Fund.
Under the ordinance, registered solo parents earning minimum wages and below are qualified to avail of the P1,000 monthly cash subsidy.
In addition, beneficiaries of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act are entitled to 10% discount and VAT exemption, 7-day parental leave with pay, prioritization in scholarship programs and grants, as well as automatic PhilHealth enrollment and coverage, among others.
Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco meanwhile encouraged solo parents to register to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to get their identification card and be eligible to receive the subsidy which can aid in their daily expenses.
“Raising children is never easy and doing it all by yourselves doubles the challenges and difficulties. We hope this amount can help ease at least a little of your burdens and bring smiles to you and your kids,” said Tiangco.
For 2024, the city government has allotted funds to cover the monthly subsidy of 500 solo parent beneficiaries.
Aside from the updated solo parent identification card and the minimum wage requirement, part of the qualifications is the non-inclusion of the prospective beneficiaries to any cash assistance program of the national government or any non-government organization, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
This is to ensure that the vulnerable sector can have equal access to programs and services that cater to their social welfare needs.
On the other hand, the local government of Navotas also provides educational assistance to solo parents amounting to P1,000 every school year pursuant to City Ordinance No. 2019-17. (Navotas PIO/PIA-NCR)
