The local government of Pasig City distributed cash subsidies to 2,489 eligible solo parents at the San Miguel Elementary School on Wednesday and Thursday, July 3 and July 4.
According to Mayor Vico Sotto, the allowance is worth P1,000 every month. The eligible beneficiaries received subsidies covering the months of January to May this year.
Sotto also mentioned that the budget for the program comes from the local government.
Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski encouraged beneficiaries to give back, not in the form of money, but by being better Pasigueños, as the budget for the program comes from the city's taxes.
“Sana, itong tulong din na ito, ang maibabalik ninyo naman, hindi po sa aming mga pulitiko—hindi po galing sa mga bulsa namin ito. Sana maibalik n'yo lang ang pagiging isang disiplinadong Pasigueño, isang Pasigueño na may malasakit sa kapwa, at isang Pasigueño na nagmamahal sa ating bansang Pilipinas (I hope you can return this help, not to us politicians because the budget does not come from our pockets, but I hope you can return it by being a disciplined Pasigueño, a Pasigueño who cares about others, and a Pasigueño who loves our country),” Jaworski said.
City Councilor Angelu De Leon said, “Hindi ho galing ito sa bulsa ng mga pulitiko (budget), ito ho ay galing sa taxpayers' money. Ito po ay galing sa lungsod ng Pasig (The budget for this program does not come from politicians' pockets; it comes from taxpayers' money. This is from the city of Pasig).”
They also reminded the beneficiaries that program is not a one-time help but will be given to them every month to assist them in their financial problems.
The city government noted that the selected eligible solo parents were those who were validated, evaluated, assessed, and passed the complete requirements out of the 3,873 registered solo parents in the city this year.
The beneficiaries are solo parents who are minimum wage earners.
Sotto explained that the cash distribution was in accordance with the implementation of the Pasig City Comprehensive Solo Parent Ordinance.
The Comprehensive Solo Parent Ordinance of the city aims to help beneficiaries meet the financial needs of their families.
Meanwhile, Sotto said that applications for solo parents and assessments remain open and applicants can inquire at the Solo Parent Help Desk in their respective barangays.
The event is also part of the celebration of Araw ng Pasig.
Sotto thanked all the personnel of the local government for making the program possible to help solo parents who are minimum wage earners.