By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
The Navotas City local government announced on Tuesday, Oct. 18, that it distributed financial assistance to a total of 450 registered solo parents at the Navotas City Hall Annex on Friday, Oct. 14.
The financial distribution is under "Saya ALL, Angat ALL: Tulong Pinansyal ng LGU ng Navotas para sa mga Solo Parents" program, which aims to benefit 1,500 solo parents in the city to help them recover from the challenges of the pandemic. Each solo parent received P2,000 cash subsidy.
The local government said the program is currently on its 4th batch of financial distribution.
It also said the program is in line with City Ordinance No. 2019-17 on the allocation of educational assistance to solo parents every school year.
The beneficiaries underwent the verification process using their newly applied and renewed solo parent identification cards.
According to one of the beneficiaries, Angelica Ebrole, 33, a single mother from Barangay Sipac-Almacen, the money she received will be used for the daily school expenses of her children.
“Gagamitin ko ang perang natanggap ko para mabigyan ng sapat na baon ang mga anak ko pagpasok sa eskwelahan. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Mayor John Rey sa pag-asikaso nya sa aming mga solo parent (I will use the money I received for my children's school needs. I thank Mayor John Rey for assisting us single parents),” Ebrole added.
“Our social welfare and development office is already preparing for the fifth and final batch of beneficiaries this year. We encourage Navoteño solo parents to secure their 2022 solo parent ID to qualify for the next payout,” Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.
The city government, through the Navotas Vocational Training and Assessment (NAVOTAAS), also conducted a five-day skills training in foot spa services to registered solo parents to provide them with livelihood opportunities.