COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAÑOS

UP Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines
+63 49 536 8409| [email protected] | www.uplb.edu.ph

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

January 6, 2023

Hon. Crisanto A. Tandang

Barangay Chair
Bayog, Los Baños Laguna

Dear Hon. Tandang:

Warm Greetings!

We truly appreciate your invaluable support and the inputs that you gave during our visit to your
barangay last 26 November 2022. In return, we humbly submit our STAND UP Project entitled:
“Agapay: Isang Ilaw, Isang Haligi (Expanded Solo-Parents Welfare Act Awareness Seminar
and Booklet Launching)”. We hope that you may find the materials useful as you keep leading your
barangay to greater heights.

Respectfully yours,

Group Members

Borja, Lyra Kassandra Buan, John Andrew Catabay, Jazmin Ann

Curioso, Ma. Princess Anne De Chavez, Cindy Claire

Noted:

ALVARO N. CALARA
Assistant Professor
SDS101 Section E Faculty Member
INTRODUCTION

I. Project Description

Social Technologies For Development And Uplifting The Marginalized Sectors or “STAND
UP” is a social development project crafted for selected sectors in a community based
on the Kwentong Buhay Video projects using the Appreciative Inquiry or “4-D” Cycle. As
for the Section E of SDS101, Brgy. Bayog is the target community, in particular, the
group will focus on the Solo Parents organization. After the project, the community
members must be able to meet the following objectives:

1. Improve the current situation/condition of the respective sectors,

2. Anchor on their available resources and strengths with the support services that
institutions such as the barangay officials and the municipal office, and other
government agencies are being offered, and
3. Sustain and manage the project for the long term to uplift the respective sectors.

Parallel to the objectives stated in the course guideline, with this project, the students
of SDS 101 E are tasked to (1) Discuss the role of social technology in addressing social
development issues within the human ecological framework, (2) Evaluate the role of
social technology in addressing social development issues within the human ecological
framework; and (3) Synthesize learning/s in the course and on Social Development.
Furthermore, the above-mentioned project will be evaluated based on the following
criteria: (1) Relevance of the Project to SD, ST, and community needs, (2)
Problem-Solution Match, (3) Feasibility and Sustainability, (4) Creativity and Innovation,
and (5) Technical Poster Writing.
 II. Sector Description

Solo Parents Community in the Philippines started to thrive and be acknowledged in the
2000s, as the government constructs a policy to carry out the principles of the
Constitution that fosters the rights of Filipino solo parents, and guarantees that they
can receive adequate social protection programs. According to a World Health
Organization-funded study by the Department of Health and the University of the
Philippines-National Institutes of Health, there are currently an estimated 14 to 15
million solo parents in the Philippines, 95% of whom are women. With this increasing
population and understanding of the hardships faced by solo parents in raising their
families— just this September 2022, DSWD leads the signing of Implementing Rules
and Regulations of Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act in its abiding commitment to
protect the welfare of every solo parent, RA 11861 which amended RA 8972.

Based on the Republic Act 8972, “An Act Providing For Benefits And Privileges To Solo
Parents And Their Children, Appropriating Funds Therefor And For Other Purposes” or
the “Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000”, a “Solo parent” is any individual who falls under
any of the following categories: (1) A woman who gives birth as a result of rape and
other crimes against chastity even without a final conviction of the offender: Provided,
That the mother keeps and raises the child; (2) Parent left solo or alone with the
responsibility of parenthood due to death of spouse; (3) Parent left solo or alone with
the responsibility of parenthood while the spouse is detained or is serving sentence for
a criminal conviction for at least one (1) year; (4) Parent left solo or alone with the
responsibility of parenthood due to physical and/or mental incapacity of spouse as
certified by a public medical practitioner; (5) Parent left solo or alone with the
responsibility of parenthood due to legal separation or de facto separation from spouse
for at least one (1) year, as long as he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children;
(6) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to declaration of
nullity or annulment of marriage as decreed by a court or by a church as long as he/she
is entrusted with the custody of the children; (7) Parent left solo or alone with the
responsibility of parenthood due to abandonment of spouse for at least one (1) year;
(8) Unmarried mother/father who has preferred to keep and rear her/his child/children
instead of having others care for them or give them up to a welfare institution; (9) Any
other person who solely provides parental care and support to a child or children; and
(10) Any family member who assumes the responsibility of the head of the family as a
result of the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of the parents
or solo parent. As stated in “Section 4. Criteria for Support” –Any solo parent whose
income in the place of domicile falls below the poverty threshold as set by the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and is subject to the assessment of the
DSWD worker in the area shall be eligible for assistance.

As for the “Comprehensive Package of Social Development and Welfare Services: stated
in Section 5, a comprehensive package of social development and welfare services for
solo parents and their families will be developed by the DSWD, DOH, DECS, CHED,
TESDA, DOLE, NHA, and DILG, in coordination with local government units and a
nongovernmental organization with a proven track record in providing services for solo
parents. The DSWD shall coordinate with concerned agencies the implementation of the
comprehensive package of social development and welfare services for solo parents and
their families. The package will initially include (a) Livelihood development services
which include training on livelihood skills, basic business management, value
orientation, and the provision of seed capital or job placement; (b) Counseling services
which include individual, peer group, or family counseling. This will focus on the
resolution of personal relationship and role conflicts; (c) Parent effectiveness services
which include the provision and expansion of knowledge and skills of the solo parent on
early childhood development, behavior management, health care, rights and duties of
parents and children; (d) Critical incidence stress debriefing which includes preventive
stress management strategy designed to assist solo parents in coping with crisis
situations and cases of abuse; and (e) Special projects for individuals in need of
protection which include temporary shelter, counseling, legal assistance, medical care,
self-concept or ego-building, crisis management, and spiritual enrichment.
Fifteen years after the implementation of the aforementioned policy, the Federation of
Solo Parents, Luzvimin, Inc. (FSPL) was established. It is a non-stock, non-profit
organization that currently comprises 26 solo parents’ associations nationwide, classified
into work-based and community-based which aims to educate, empower and inspire
solo parents nationwide. Its vision states as follows: “To serve as the voice of the solo
parents’ sector, working together for the benefit and common good of all solo parents
and their children nationwide.” In addition, its mission implies the following phrase: “To
inform and advocate for a full understanding of, and adherence to the provisions of the
Solo Parents Welfare Act and its proposed amendments to local government units, solo
parents, media, communities”. FSPL, Inc. carries the following goals/objectives: (1) To
disseminate accurate information on the rights and benefits of solo parents; (2) To work
closely with other civil society organizations in the pursuit of our advocacy to amend RA
8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000; (3) To establish a national
database/profile of solo parents in the country; and (4) To empower solo parents
through mobilizing, organizing and active participation in national/local advocacy
activities initiated by the Federation and its members' organizations.

Through the help of the said organization, numerous “Community-Based Solo Parents'
Associations” across the country were established, which were as follows: Central Luzon
Regional Federation of Solo Parents, Solo Parents Alliance for Community
Empowerment, Angeles City, Pampanga (SPACE), San Fernando City Solo Parents
Federation, Solong Magulang ng San Lorenzo Village, Makati Inc. (SOMA ng SANLO),
Provincial Federation of Solo Parents, Bulacan Inc., Naga City-Solo Parents Federation
(NCSFP), Municipal Federation of Solo Parents in Pavia, Iloilo, Baguio City-Solo Parents
Federation, Solo Parents Federation of Mondragon, Northern Samar, Solo Parents Assn
of Cabuyao (SPACI) Inc, United Solo Parents of Surigao City, Panabo City-Solo Parents
Federation, Bay Laguna Solo Parents Association, and NCR Regional Solo Parents
Federation.
III. Key Informant Description

As for the key informants of the project, the group selected two solo parents from the
community. The first key informant is a single father of two high school students,
named Renato Banasihan or “Tatay Nats”. He is a former construction worker and
doesn’t have an occupation as of the writing. Meanwhile, the second key informant is
Lyndee Cavan, or “Nanay Dee”, a single mother of her one-year-old daughter, working
as a maid for 6 years. Both of them are solo parents since 2021, however, only Tatay
Nats is registered and thus, recognized by the municipality as a solo parent. Nanay Dee
remains not well informed of the possible benefits she might receive, since she can’t
find time to register in the local government unit of Los Baños given her tight schedule
as she juggles work and taking care of her daughter.

These two solo parents are the caregivers and breadwinners of their families, and they
should be recognized and acknowledged properly. Given the current state of the
legislation, the privileges provided to them should be substantially extended to reflect
the complexities of their demands. The key informants also expressed dismay over the
vowed government support for their sector and stated that evidently, there is a lack of
financial support amidst the expansion of the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act, wherein solo
parents earning a minimum wage or below are promised to receive a monthly cash
subsidy of P1,000 from their respective local government units.

Nevertheless, for the community of barangay Bayog, the group wasn’t able to obtain
the official number of the members of the solo parent organization since the barangay
officials are still working on it. During the field visit, the group also discovered that the
organization for solo parents exists but wasn’t fully established, since the members are
only gathered once a year for financial assistance distribution. Thus, the group aims to
conduct an awareness seminar and booklet launching, an initiative that aims to spread
information about the rights and benefits of solo parents in the community and enhance
the existing solo parent organization in Barangay Bayog.
RECOMMENDATION

After recalibrating the issues and other information obtained from the field visit of the
selected sector, the matrix below contains the Issue, Solution, Mechanism, Resource/s
Needed, Person In Charge, and Timeframe for the social development project.

SECTOR: SOLO PARENT COMMUNITY

ISSUE SOLUTION MECHANISM RESOURCE/S PERSON TIMEFRAM
NEEDED IN E
CHARGE

Lack of (1) Monitor: Human Layout: Booklet

awareness Creation of resources: John Layout:
To monitor the
regarding the Agapay - Layout Andrew January
the Booklet. success of this Artist Buan 8-28,
expanded - Writers 2023
project, annual
benefits and Writers/
and evaluation of used Translators Translato Content
privileges rs: Ma. Creation /
booklets will be
granted to Non-human Princess Translatio
Solo-Parent done. The sector resources: Anne n:
s in the - Papers for Curioso, January
will also be
country. Printing Cindy 8-20,
consulted regarding - Printer Claire De 2023
- Budget for Chavez
their opinions on the
Printing Printing
contents so that Printing and
Proper: Binding:
their
Lyra January
recommendations Kassandr 29-31,
a Borja, 2023
will also be
Jazmin
incorporated. It is Ann
Catabay
also highly
encouraged that the
booklet be revised
as needed.
Control:
The barangay is
recommended to set
an allotted budget
for booklet
production. Copies
should be kept at
hand in case of new
inquirers. Revisions
should be made a
month before the
end of the year so
that distribution can
be made during the
four weeks of
January.

Coordinate:
To carry on the
project throughout
the upcoming years,
the SDS 101
students will give all
of the project
materials to the
barangay officials
and officers of the
existing solo
 parents'
organization.

(2) Monitor: Human Registrati Event

Agapay: resources: on: Lyra Preparati
The success of this
Isang Ilaw, - Kassandr ons:
Isang seminar will be Registration a Borja February
Haligi - Host 1-28,
determined by the
(Expanded - Facilitator Host: 2023
Solo-Parent participants’ answer - Technical Ma.
s Welfare - Docu. Princess Sending
in the evaluation
Act Anne out of
Awareness form to be Non-human Curioso Letters to
Seminar resources: Prospecti
disseminated before
and - Technical ve
Booklet the end of the Microphone : John Partners
Launching) - Speaker Andrew and
event.
- Projector Buan Speaker:
- Laptop March 1,
- Booklet. Docume 2023
Control:
ntation: (Deadline
Proper assignment Jazmin of
Ann Confirmat
and distribution of
Catabay ion:
tasks are crucial to and March 24,
Cindy 2023)
maintain good
Claire De
control of the Chavez Announce
ment and
seminar. Dry run of
Communi
the event proper, cations
with Brgy.
should take place in
Bayog
order to avoid and Solo
Parents
difficulties during
Sector:
the seminar. Roles March 27,
2023
and responsibilities
of event staff should Event
Proper:
be clear to everyone
April 15,
2023 (3rd
 involved. Proper Saturday
of April -
communication
PH
channels should be National
Solo-Pare
employed during the
nts Day)
event.

Coordinate:
Important people in
the Barangay should
be invited and
informed.
Coordination with
the Barangay Police
Officers will also be
necessary in order
to ensure that the
day will roll out
safely.

Registration Collaborati Monitor: Human Facilitato Event

difficulties ve Session resources: r/s: Lyra Proper:
Success of the
of between - Facilitator Kassandr April 15,
solo-parents the collaborative session - Barangay a Borja, 2023
. community Representati John
will be determined
and ve/s Andrew
barangay by the quality of the Buan,
officials Jazmin
solution agreed
during the Ann
Awareness upon by the two Catabay,
Seminar. Ma.
parties.
Princess
Anne
Curioso,
Control:
Cindy
Claire De
Facilitators will take Chavez
the lead role of
maintaining order
during the session.

Coordinate:
Give a
recommendation to
the barangay to
send at least one
representative to
the Solo-Parents
Organization
meetings. In this
way, collaborative
sessions will be
sustained. This will
also empower the
SP Sector to become
active participants in
solving different
problematic issues
assailing their own
community.
INFOGRAPHIC/POSTER

1. Poster (Publicity Material/Invitation for the Awareness Seminar)

A.1. Infographic Poster (Overview)

A.2. Infographic Poster (Sample Facebook Posting)

B. Flyers
The infographic poster includes all information about the project such as the
introduction, seminar details, booklet description, and frequently asked questions. It
was customized as a Facebook post, wherein the whole image can be cut into 4 squares
of images (see figure A.2.) On the other hand, the flyers can be disseminated physically
as it includes the basic details about the event such as the topic, audience, location,
date, and things to bring.

You may access the editable file by clicking this link:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFWiZpRktY/-KPW20bY-ukT73xZD3neEA/edit?utm_co
ntent=DAFWiZpRktY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=s
harebutton
2. Booklet
You may access the editable file by clicking this link:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFWi46IH9Q/JfanfJOOMD3yH_Bomm1FTg/edit?utm_c
ontent=DAFWi46IH9Q&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=
sharebutton
REFERENCES

DSWD. (2022, September 30). DSWD leads signing of implementing rules and
regulations of Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act. Department of Social Welfare
and Development. Retrieved December 31, 2022, from
https://www.dswd.gov.ph/dswd-leads-signing-of-implementing-rules-and-regulati
ons-of-expanded-solo-parents-welfare-act/

Federation of Solo Parents, Luzvimin, Inc. (FSPL). (n.d.) About Us: Federation of Solo

Parents, Luzvimin, Inc. (FSPL). Retrieved December 31, 2022, from https://sites.

google.com/view/federationofsoloparentsph/about-us

Federation of Solo Parents, Luzvimin, Inc. (FSPL). (n.d.).Community-Based Solo Parents'

Associations: Federation of Solo Parents, Luzvimin, Inc. (FSPL). Retrieved

December 31, 2022, from https://sites.google.com/view/federationofsolo

parentsph/about-us/community-based-solo-parents-associations?authuser=0

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (2000, November 7). Republic
Act no. 8972: Govph. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved
December 29, 2022, from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2000/11/07/repub
lic-act-no-8972/