• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
For the first time, about 1,500 solo parents in Bacolod City will be receiving a subsidy of P12,000 each this month, from the local government.
Bacolod Mayor El Cid Familiaran said he had signed the release of an amount of P18 million for the annual subsidy for the solo parents.
The granting of subsidy is in relation to the implementation of the Republic Act (RA) No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2022 and City Ordinance (CO) No. 1041 ,series of 2023 ,an ordinance amending section 4 of CO 550, or the solo parents programs/services ordinance.
Section 15 of the RA 11861 stated that a monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 per month per solo parent who is earning a minimum wage and below, to be allocated by the concerned city or municipal government in accordance with Section 17(b)(2)(iv) of the Local Government Code.
Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, head of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) said the recipients for the subsidy are solo parents who underwent assessment and evaluation by the city last year.
Mangga said this is the first time that the city will be releasing the subsidy to solo parents, following the implementation of RA No. 11861. They will be made to undergo annual evaluation to determine if they are still qualified, based on their status.
Aside from subsidy benefits solo parents are also entitled to avail of medical, psychological, and other assistance.*
