Carillo lobbies for approval of solo parents’ aid budget

Cebu City Councilor Gerry Carillo (CDN FILE)

Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo asked the  City Council to include a  P40 million budget next year for the solo parents program which he authored.

He said it should be implemented next year, and not  by 2022 yet, contrary to the interpretation of some councilors.

“As long as they have voted in  previous three consecutive elections, they can avail of this program. Hence, the financial assistance of the Solo Parents should be enjoyed now,” Carillo said in a privilege speech during the council’s regular session last Wednesday.

Under the program, a solo parent would receive P5,000 cash aid yearly.

The P40 million outlay is part of the budget of the  Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) for 2016.

The City Council already wrapped up its  hearings on the proposed P8.9 billion annual  budget.

Under Section 5 of the ordinance,  qualified solo parents should be a registerted and resident voter of Cebu City who has voted in three consecutive local and national elections.

Councilor Margarita Osmena, who heads the budget committee, said an ordinance should not be retroactive in effect.

She said this means a qualified solo parents is one who voted for three consecutive elections after the passage of the ordinance or starting next year.

This means that a solo parent can only be qualified if they voted in 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Carillo, in his speech,  said this was not the correct interpretation of the the ordinance he authored.

He said the three-election rule  was put there to deter the influx of solo parents who may  transfer their registration to Cebu City just to avail of the cash assistance.

He explained that those who were able to vote in at least three previous elections can already qualify.

“I am saddened by some sectors saying that the financial assistance shall be implemented in 2022 yet. Imagine the impact of assistance we could provide these solo parents if we act now rather than wait for more years. Picture the children of our solo parents going to school and adequately nourished, visualize a future where a solo parent is no longer overburdened with insufficient salary, and envision a strong and unbroken family, there is a community of solo parents that is self-sustaining, capable and competent,” Carillo said.

Carillo cited a survey  by the University of San Carlos in Cebu City which stated that there are 4,832 solo parents in the city.

Of this number, 80 percent are living below the poverty threshold as provided by the National Statistics Coordination Board.

“This means, that eight out of ten Cebu City solo parents are living with an income below 5,000 per month with the average solo parent earning a salary of P1,889 per month. This fact alone should serve as a sufficient impetus to help these unfortunate souls, not as legislator, but as human being,” he said.

Carillo assured that he won’t stop fighting for the benefits for  solo parents in the city.

Some women wearing red shirts with the words “solo parents” printed on it attended the regular session when Carillo gave the speech.

But the council didn’t discuss Carillo’s plea.

The council’s committee on budget and finance wound up marathon budget hearings for the city’s annual budget next year.

They will meet again  to come up with the final allocations within the month.