ISPEAK

'Nay-Tay': The plight of

solo parents
A solo parent shares her life as a 'Nay-Tay' and her support for all other solo
parents in the Philippines
Carina A. Javier
Published 2:40 PM, May 11, 2014
Updated 2:50 PM, May 11, 2014

Mothers Day.
As I sit here contemplating, I realized that this day, Mothers Day is no different
from other days, especially for us "Nay-Tays" or Nanay na, Tatay pa (mom and
dad).
I wake up and rush about doing my household chores which I can no longer
attend to during weekdays owing to my hectic work schedule.
(READ: Domestication of women)

This is supposed to be our day, I thought to myself and I deserve some time off,
but as I scroll through my text, email, and Facebook messages, I am bombarded
by pleas for help from other solo parents who are in dire circumstances.
Most of them, I noticed are working as kasambahays (househelp) in Metro
Manila, enduring the loneliness and anxiety of being separated from their
children, whom they are forced to leave to their parents and relatives in their
provinces.
What can I do to help them?
As a staunch advocate of promoting the rights and welfare of solo parents and as
president of our solo parents organization in the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD)-Central office, I have often been interviewed by media
and invited as resource person to discuss how to cope with solo parenthood.
Through these broadcast and print interviews and speaking engagements, I met
other solo parents, and though our situations vary, we share a common concern
the constant struggle to raise our children alone, to be solely responsible for

their well-being, and to ensure that they will grow up to be morally upright and
productive citizens.
The task of solo parenting is daunting with myriad challenges cropping up at
every turn of our lives.
As we journey through life with our children, working hard to sustain their needs,
we face these challenges head on trusting in Divine Providence to pull us through
whatever trials we encounter along the way.

The need for support groups

SOLO FLIGHT. Solo parents support group posing in front of the DSWD Central Office. They
welcome both solo fathers and mothers. Photo from Carina Javier

In February 2004, the DSWD Central Office Solo Parents Support Group was
organized in response to the needs of solo parent-employees in the Department
as part of the implementation of RA 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of
2000.

We design activities that foster unity and camaraderie among our members.
These include spiritual enhancement, staff development and sharing sessions,
and fellowship among others.
Serving as president from 2009 to date, I bear the formidable task of being our
organizations official spokesperson, mediator and event organizer.
To further our advocacy, I have formed linkages with other solo parents
associations, notably the Solong Nanay at Tatay (SONATA) Confederation, which
serves as an umbrella organization of all solo parents associations or SPAs, Nain
Foundation, an non-governmental organization (NGO) implementing programs
for widows and single mothers and the office of the Solicitor General (OSG) Solo
Parents Organization.
Through these linkages, I found an avenue to ventilate our issues and concerns
calling on the national and local governments to intensify the implementation of
RA 8972, as well as lobby for the proposed amendments to this law.
14 years later, our support group currently has 50 plus solo parent employees.
We have evolved into an organization with strengthened links to other SPAs with
a unified goal of advocating the rights and welfare of solo parents and our
children nationwide.
Comprising the core group are solo parent-employees with minor children 17
years old and below, and those in the support group of solo parents with adult
children.
As a support group, we look out for each other, acting like a big sister or brother
to one another.

Harnessing social media

Owing to our busy work schedules, I created a facebook page where we can
correspond with one another.

Social media has played a big role in helping us keep in touch, and abreast of
latest developments involving solo parents.
We also use to connect with other organizations.
Moreover, the organization of solo parents support groups in government
agencies, private corporations, and barangay level is an effective strategy to
counter or minimize the stress and pressures being experienced by solo parents
everywhere.

Proposed Amendments
During the First National Convention of Solo Parents held in Naga City,
Camarines Sur last April 25-26, more than 500 leaders of various SPAs gathered
to expressed our solid support to the proposed amendments.
We urge for the:
Inclusion of penalties for non-compliance
to the amended law
Inclusion of budget appropriation for its
implementation; a share of 1% from the
internal revenue allotment (IRA)
Creation of an office of solo parents in
every province, city/municipalityprovision
Full scholarship to at least one child
Equal access to employment and
educational opportunities
Reduction of taxes for solo parents

 Provision of Philhealth card for solo

parents below poverty line
Free legal assistance
Increase of the age of a solo parents
beneficiary/dependent from 18 to 21
years old in view of the K-12 curriculum
of the Department of Education
We firmly believe that solo parents with children enrolled in the K-12 will have a
hard time financing the schooling of their children up to college, considering the
additional years needed to finish basic education.
Further, students taking up a four year degree course usually graduate at age 21,
hence, should still be considered as a dependent of the solo parent.
These amendments reflect our common concerns.
There is an urgent need for medical, educational, legal, and livelihood assistance
particularly for those in the sector living below poverty level which must be
addressed by the national and local governments, and the agencies tasked to
provide the appropriate assistance.

The road ahead

After more than a decade since RA 8972 was enacted, we still face difficulties in
carrying out our task as head of our families.
Only a few local government units, notably the province of Bulacan, and Naga
City, Camarines Sur offer concrete programs for solo parents and their children
ranging from livelihood assistance to scholarship programs.
Admittedly, there is still a lot to be done to advocate the rights and welfare of solo
parents.

Foremost among these is an enhanced advocacy of RA 8972, considering that

some local government units (LGUs) especially in the remote and rural areas
are not even aware of this law. This prevents them from implementing the
programs and services as specified in the law.
Its a long and winding road.
But if the government and private sector work together in strongly advocating for
the passage of the amendments in the law, and in integrating all programs and
services for us and our children, we may soon find the light at the end of the
tunnel. Rappler.com
Carina Javier is a solo parent of 3 sons, two of whom are teenagers. She is the
president of the Solo Parents Organization in the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) Central Office. She is also an Information Officer in
DSWD.
For more informatioon on the Solo parents support group, you may visit them
on facebook. You can also reach them at soloflight6@gmail.com.
Waving Philippine flag image from Shutterstock.
Filed under:DSWDMother's dayRA 8972Single Parents Support GroupSolo Parents Welfare Act of
2000nay-taysolo parents