The City Social Welfare and Development Office of San Fernando, La Union in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field I (DSWD FO I) conducted an Orientation on Republic Act No. 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Act of 2000 to solo parents of Barangay Sevilla. Parental leave, flexible work schedule, medical and educational assistance, and campaign against work discrimination were among the points of discussion during the orientation.

Intensifying the advocacy on solo parents’ empowerment, the said activity is the pilot project of the Social Welfare and Development Learning Network (SWDL-Net) Field Office I in the city. SWDL-Net is a linkage of organizations, agencies, schools and individuals spearheaded by DSWD who provide and conduct training and related capacity building programs on social welfare and development, primarily on poverty alleviation and social protection in the country.

The different social services and programs of the Department were also discussed during the activity to guide the participants to access assistance per assessment and validation during the profiling.

The group later elected their officers and organized themselves as Brgy. Sevilla, SCF Solo Parents Association, the first Solo Parent Association of the city in the barangay level. “Madami palang pribilehiyo ang pagiging Solo Parent. Sisikapin naming pamunuan ng maayos ang aming asosasyon para maging inspirasyon sa ibang solo parents (We have learned that being a solo parent has a lot of priviledges. We aim to govern our association well that we shall become an inspiration to other solo parents)”, said the Association President Carlota G. Dela Cruz.  (by: Janine Joy B. Altero, Social Marketing Officer, Sustainable Livelihood Program)