PRIVILEGES are up for solo parents.
Baguio City Vice Mayor Edison Bilog announced the approval of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the solo parent ordinance, meriting its full implementation.
Bilog said the IRR was also approved by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and it will now be mandatorily implemented by schools, groceries, hospitals and pharmacies all over Baguio City.
He said solo parents must register with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and acquire the solo parent card and booklet to avail themselves of the discounts.
Under the ordinance, solo parents in Baguio City will be entitled to discounted medicines, tuition and groceries and burial assistance of at least 10 percent.
Last year, Bilog and Councilor Faustino Olowan moved for discounts of solo parents with income under P250,000 seeking to give solo parents and their children additional benefits over and above which is offered in Republic Act 8972.
The ordinance was approved and now the IRR has been crafted and likewise given the green light.
Bilog said the only significant difference in the IRR now is the exclusion of discounts for college level children of solo parents, saying only senior high has been included.
"We will now have a massive information dissemination campaign to inform all establishments of the new law and what is due to solo parents," Bilog added.
Persons or companies found violating the new ordinance will be penalized a P1,500 fine for the first offense; P2,500 for the second offense; P5,000 fine and closure of business as may be ordered by the appropriate implementing agency for the third offense.
Persons found guilty of falsification of documents to avail themselves of the solo parent benefits will also be fined P5,000 or one month imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court.
There are at least 7,000 registered solo parents in the Cordillera region.