A total of 600 certified solo parents here will receive financial assistance of PHP3,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The fund of PHP1.8 million was facilitated by the office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda said in an interview on Friday.

The financial aid was sourced from the DSWD’s Assistance To Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

“Our office has been receiving messages from our solo parents asking for assistance, so we tried asking help from Sen. Bong Go and the DSWD,” she added.

Most of those identified beneficiaries are solo parents who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and they are the only provider for the needs of their children.

Baronda said some solo parents are asking for help to buy necessities such as diapers and infant formula.

An initial 300 of the beneficiaries received the DSWD assistance on Thursday which was distributed at the Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand.

Baronda said there is no definite schedule yet to distribute the financial assistance to the other 300 validated beneficiaries as they have to ensure that health protocols are to be observed.

The distribution on Thursday afternoon was witnessed by Bing Juaneza, Go’s representative. (PNA)