CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Local government units (LGUs) in Northern Mindanao kicked off National Solo Parents Week on Monday with additional benefits for the lone head of the family.
In a statement, Iligan City Councilor Maria Paz Zalsos said the celebration acknowledges their efforts, sometimes unrecognized, for both family and society.
“Even though you are the only parent, you take the roles of a mother and a father. It is not easy what you are facing,” she said.
Iligan City is one of the LGUs in the region that supports Republic Act 11861, or the Solo Parents Welfare Act, through local policies.
Iligan City currently has 2,600 registered solo parents who receive PHP1,000 monthly assistance.
In this city, Ordinance No. 2025-728, co-authored by Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez and Councilor Maria Lourdes Gaane, provides free annual comprehensive medical checkups and laboratory exams.
The recipients include all city residents, prioritizing not only solo parents but also senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Rodriguez stated that the ordinance will ensure every city resident has access to quality medical services provided by the city and accredited health care providers, mitigating the costs associated with the tests.
