TABUK CITY, Kalinga– Solo parents from District 1 attended the self-enhancement and stress debriefing conducted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) at Tree Tops Eco Adventure Resort.
The activity was held to teach the solo parent participants how to handle personal stress from the challenges of solo parenting, according to social welfare officer Marinel Dorgay.
One of the highlights during the first day of the activity is the orientation on RA 11861 (Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act) given by Assistant City Legal Officer Atty. Guillermo Lawagan who discussed the categories of being a solo parent, requirements for the issuance of solo parent identification card, and the benefits provided to solo parents.
Concerning benefits reserved to solo parents, these include comprehensive package for social protection, services from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), flexible work schedule, telecommuting, non-work discrimination and parental leave.
Also, solo parents are entitled to educational benefits, child-minding centers, social safety assistance, exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT), automatic PhilHealth coverage, prioritization on housing projects, and mean, pension and subsidy.
Enrique Baliang, who represented City Mayor Darwin Estrañero addressed the solo parents to make their children their inspiration to win the daily struggles and challenges of being a solo parent. He said that the city government also has programs and services extended to them for their wholesome development.
Alexa Barerra, focal person for Solo Parents Welfare Program for District 1 emphasized that being a single parent can come with its own set of challenges, and with childrearing that becomes more difficult because of responsibility overload especially when one parent makes all the decisions and provides for all of the family need.
The activity continues tomorrow with other sessions like spiritual development and stress management.
