SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – The Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved two local ordinances that promote adolescence health development program (AHDP) and put in place intervention measures based on the country’s “Solo Parent Act” during its regular session Monday.
City Councilor Karla Monica C. Adajar, author of the approved measure, told Philippine News Agency on Wednesday the two vital measures are City Ordinance No. 2018-54 or “An Ordinance Creating the San Pablo City Adolescence Health Development Program,” and Ordinance No. 2018-57 or “An Ordinance Adopting Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parent’s Welfare Act of 2000.”
“This city ordinance (AHDP) aims to provide the necessary care and protection for the rights of children from 10 to 19 years-old,” Adajar said.
She said that the ordinance focuses on the children and teenagers’ health and nutrition development; promotion of sexual and reproductive health; elimination of illegal substance; reduction of injuries and mortality, morbidity and psychosocial consequences of violence and good mental health for the adolescents.
Her authored ordinance also calls for the establishment of the local Council for AHDP ,to be headed by the City Health Office and council members as focal persons from the City Population Office, City Social Welfare Office, Department of Education (DepEd)-San Pablo City division and the city’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK-youth council) federation president.
Adajar also authored City Ordinance No. 2018-57, which provides assistance to “solo parents”, who are city residents and whose annual income is below the poverty threshold determined by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA); and qualified based on assessment by the Office of Social Welfare and Development (OSWD).
“Ang mga solo parents at kanilang pamilya ay mabibigyan ng comprehensive package of social development and welfare services sa pangangasiwa ng City Social Welfare Office bilang implementing agency (the solo parents and their families would be given the comprehensive package of social development and welfare services through the City Social Welfare Office as the implementing agency),” she added.
Under this local ordinance, the solo parents will benefit from the package of livelihood skills trainings; basic business management; value orientation; “seed” money as capital and job placement; counseling services; temporary shelter; legal assistance; medical services, among other city government assistance.
Adajar urged the intended solo parent beneficiary to visit the OSWD to apply for Solo Parent ID with the requirements, including the birth certificate/s of child or children of minor age, the applicant’s barangay clearance; proof of being “solo” parent such as a death certificate from either spouse and a Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) for single father/mother; photocopy of two valid IDs and two pieces of 1×1 photos. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
