MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) honors solo parents providing parental care and support to their children on their own as the country commemorates the first “Solo Parents Week”.

Together with other agencies, the DSWD commits to work hand-in-hand toward the goal of achieving a just and fair society for Filipino solo parents, their children, and their families.

“The Department recognizes your sacrifices to independently raise and care for your children and thus, commends you for your courage and strength to fulfill this difficult responsibility,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a news release on Tuesday.

The DSWD is the lead agency of the solo parents’ Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee (IACMC).

It has prepared a weeklong celebration to spread awareness on the strengthened and expanded law for solo parents, in coordination with Field Offices and the members of the IACMC.

On June 4, 2022, former president Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, which provides that the third week and third Saturday of April are declared Solo Parents Week and National Solo Parents Day, respectively.

During the celebration, the DSWD-Central Office Solo Parents’ Support Group received an award in recognition of the group’s contribution to the advocacy of solo parents’ rights, specifically to the solo parent employees of the Department.

RA 11861 amended RA 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000, to broaden and make more effective certain initiatives to promote the rights of Filipino solo parents and to ensure that they can receive adequate social protection programs from the government.  The DSWD reiterated its commitment to oversee and maintain the effective implementation of the law in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to secure the welfare of solo parents and to ensure that they and other vulnerable sectors are not left behind in development. (PNA)