BY: JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR
For 15 years, Mary Jane has raised her four children on her own.
Her main livelihood is selling mangoes and pork cracklings at Burnham Park.
But after years of perseverance, she was able to send two of her children to college.
Mary Jane is one of 548 solo parents in Baguio recorded by the City Social Welfare and Development Office in 2023.
Of these, 508 are women, while 40 are men.
Aside from raising children alone, the high cost of living is another challenge for many.
With the enactment of the Expanded Solo Parent Act (Republic Act No. 11861), solo parents can now obtain a purchase booklet.
This allows them to avail of a 10% discount when buying essential goods for their children.
The law grants 10% discount and VAT exemption on milk, vitamins, vaccines, and other essentials for solo parents earning 250,000 pesos or less annually.
This benefit is available to solo parents with children aged six years old and below.
The Solo Parent Purchase Booklet can be obtained from the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Solo parents must coordinate with the office for an assessment before receiving the booklet.
