Single parents living in Cebu City whose annual income is below P60,000 have a reason to celebrate.
The Cebu City Council passed yesterday an ordinance granting P5,000 financial aid to solo parents, a move that supports Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000.
The ordinance, however, requires the solo parent to have voted for three consecutive elections.
Jenny, a 42-year-old fruit vendor who is a single mom of two from barangay Ermita, could not believe at first at the happy surprise.
“Tinuod na? Nindota gud ana,” said Jenny, whose children are aged 9 and 12. (Is that true?)
She said the assistance can help send her children to school.
As of now, her two kids are just helping her sell fruits and have yet to get an education.
For Melanie Magdadaro, 33, of barangay Mabolo, the city should make sure that the beneficiaries deserve and really need the money.
“I think it’s not just the financial aspect that’s important. The city should also focus on the psychological aspect. There are easy ways to find money, but it might be difficult to cure the other aspects of being a solo parent,” she said.
Among the ordinance’s requirements is for solo parents to be registered and resident voters of Cebu City, and must have voted for three consecutive elections.
It was this requirement that prompted some councilors to object and vote against the passage of the ordinance during the council’s final deliberation yesterday.
Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos this requirement can’t benefit its “desired beneficiary.”
“With this requirement, it would mean that solo parents will be at least 27 years old? Since when they are allowed to vote at 18 years old, they still need to vote for three consecutive elections or nine years,” she said.
Delos Santos said the more ideal beneficiaries of the solo parents’ cash assistance are minors or those in their early 20s who might find it difficult to raise children on their own.
“This is impractical since the money won’t reached the desired beneficiaries. It would be better to train them and capacitate them and to also give them livelihood programs,” she added.
The requirement, however, was defended by its proponent Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who said its purpose is to deter the influx of solo parents who might want to transfer to Cebu City.
“This is to establish that those who will benefit are residents of the city. If they have voted for the last three elections, then they will be qualified. But for those who aren’t registered, they’d have to wait for nine years. It’s meant to discourage them,” Carillo explained.
Based on records from the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services, there are more or less 800 solo parents in the city.
Nine councilors voted for the passage of the ordinance including Alvin Arcilla, Nestor Archival Sr., Roberto Cabarrubias, Carillo, Margot Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Nida Cabrera, Lea Japson and Alvin Dizon.
Delos Santos and Abella voted against its passage. Councilors James Anthony Cuenco, Noel Wenceslao and Eugenio Gabuya abstained.
Councilors Richard Osmeña, Dave Tumulak and Phillip Zafra were absent.