A TOTAL of 1,333 out of 2,007 applicants for the solo parent financial assistance program in Mandaue City have qualified and will receive an annual cash subsidy of P12,000, which will be distributed in two tranches of P6,000 each.
The first distribution is set to begin on March 26, 2025, said Committee on Social Services Councilor Jimmy Lumapas in an interview on Monday, March 17.
The City Government approved the ordinance last year, but its implementation is retroactive to this year, ensuring that eligible solo parents receive financial aid.
However, Councilor Jimmy Lumapas said another ordinance needs to be passed to make the assistance a regular biannual benefit.
Lumapas said that applicants must be residents of Mandaue City, have an income below the Philippine Statistics Authority’s poverty threshold, and must not be receiving other government subsidies, except for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
They must also have at least one child and earn below the minimum wage.
He further clarified that solo parents earning P180,000 to below P250,000 annually are entitled to financial assistance for two children, while those earning P250,000 to below P300,000 can receive aid for three children.
Meanwhile, solo parents earning P300,000 and above are required to have at least four children to qualify.
The distribution will be ahead of the election ban on March 28 to ensure that qualified solo parents receive their financial assistance without delay.
Lumapas stressed that raising children alone is not easy, especially when they reach school age, which is why the City Government sees the need to provide additional support.
Children eligible under the program must be between 0 to 22 years old and must be under the custody of the solo parent, regardless of whether the parent is male or female.
Unlike the financial aid programs for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, which guarantee yearly assistance, solo parents must undergo an annual evaluation by the City Social Welfare Services (CSWS).
If the evaluation finds that a recipient is no longer a solo parent such as when they enter a new relationship or marriage, they will no longer qualify for the subsidy, said Lumapas
To apply, solo parents must present a valid Solo Parent Identification Card, an affidavit of no employment for those who are jobless, an income tax return for those who are employed, and a certificate of indigency.
Approved beneficiaries must also attend an orientation seminar organized by the CSWS before receiving their financial aid.
Lumapas added that the CSWS will continue to monitor beneficiaries annually to ensure they remain eligible under the program’s guidelines. (CAV)