Adi Joaquim Tolentino

Local government units (LGUs) will spearhead the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Strengthening Opportunities for Lone Parents Program (Program SOlo) as an initiative to uplift solo-parent headed families across the Philippines.

Photo Courtesy of ABS-CBN News.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said that the program’s success largely depends on how LGUs customize interventions based on the real needs of their solo parent constituents.

“The Program SOLo is designed to complement Republic Act (RA) No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act. It is crafted with the realities of solo parents in mind – acknowledging the daily challenges they face while raising children single-handedly,” Dumlao explained through a news release.

Program SOLo, formally launched on February 15, 2024, in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, complements Republic Act 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act through offering economic and psychosocial support to solo parents at the grassroots level.

LGUs are in charge of conducting family case management, delivering support services, setting up emotional and parenting support systems, and ensuring that solo parents are connected to national benefits.
Solo parents with two to three children below 22 years old, especially those living near each other, are prioritized by the program for easier access to community-based support services.

Through their Solo Parent Offices (SPOs), LGUs are responsible for registering solo parents, issuing Solo Parent Identification Cards (SPICs), and facilitating access to monthly cash subsidies, health insurance, scholarships, livelihood training, and flexible work benefits provided under RA 11861.

Dumlao emphasized that Program SOLo envisions a life for solo parents that is "matatag" (secure), "maginhawa" (comfortable), and "panatag" (strongly rooted), achievable only if local governments deliver consistent and client-centered services.

However, the DSWD acknowledged that differences in LGU resources and commitment could result in uneven implementation across regions, risking the exclusion of solo parents in less-equipped areas.

Program SOLo was initially piloted in Lapu-Lapu City (Cebu), Anda (Pangasinan), and Panabo City (Davao del Norte), where local officials signed agreements to coordinate with the DSWD and other stakeholders.

In these pilot areas, LGUs organized caravans and one-stop-shop events for solo parents to easily register, process their SPICs, and access immediate psychosocial support.

"Through this program, we are building a society where solo parents are supported, respected, and empowered to raise resilient families," Dumlao said, noting that the emotional well-being of parents directly affects child development outcomes.

Under RA 11861, solo parents earning minimum wage or less are entitled to Php 1,000 monthly assistance from LGUs, along with other benefits like PhilHealth coverage, housing priority, educational scholarships, and VAT exemptions on child essentials.

The DSWD is working with LGUs to offer technical assistance and develop monitoring tools to track how Program SOLo is being rolled out at the barangay and municipal levels.

“Through this program, we are building a society where solo parents are supported, respected, and empowered to raise resilient families,” she stressed.

With thousands of solo parents relying on community-level interventions, the program's real measure lies in how quickly and effectively LGUs can translate national policies into tangible support.

As Program SOLo expands nationwide, the DSWD urged all solo parents to register at their LGU’s Solo Parent Office and renew their SPICs annually to ensure uninterrupted access to benefits.