Forty-six solo parents in Ilocos Norte on Tuesday received PHP6,000 each from the provincial government following their assessment as qualified beneficiaries under the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.

Under the law, beneficiaries are entitled to receive a monthly cash subsidy of PHP1,000 from the local government unit, provided that they earn minimum wage or below and are not beneficiaries of any other government cash assistance program.

The PHP6,000 covers the months of January to June this year.

Maria Rina Lubue, a solo parent with four kids and a resident of Barangay 14 in Bacarra town, told the Philippine News Agency that the amount will be a big help for her to make ends meet.

“I am so thankful for this financial assistance given to my family,” she said. “It will be used to buy school supplies for my kids.”

Based on the latest government data, there are 1,770 registered solo parents in Ilocos Norte.

In his short message during the ceremonial distribution of financial aid, Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc encouraged members of the marginalized sector in the province to avail of other forms of assistance the provincial government is offering.

“Please let us know whatever you need especially on your livelihood and we will do our best to provide for you,” he said.

In Batac City, the local government has allocated an initial PHP3 million for the monthly social pension of eligible solo parents.

However, unlike beneficiaries of the persons with disabilities (PWD) and senior citizens’ cash subsidies, solo parents must undergo an annual evaluation by the City Social Welfare Services Office (CSWSO) to determine their continued eligibility.

To date, there are around 600 registered solo parents in Batac City.

Aside from the financial subsidy, various government programs and services from other institutions designed to support solo parents are also available, among them the 10-percent discount and exemption from value-added tax (VAT) for solo parents earning less than PHP250,000 annually on the purchase of their child’s milk, food, micronutrient supplements, sanitary diapers, prescribed medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplies from birth until the child turns six years old.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) has also issued a memorandum circular allowing solo parents with a valid or updated solo parent identification card and an income below the poverty line, as declared by the Philippine Statistics Authority, to have equal access to housing opportunities in NHA projects and become responsible members of the Homeowners Association (HOA).

Solo parents and their children also have access to scholarships and other educational programs from the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. (PNA)