House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera has urged improved implementation of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act to extend its benefits to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly single parents facing challenges abroad.
Herrera highlighted the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a solo parent and OFW who returned to the Philippines last December after nearly 15 years of imprisonment in Indonesia on drug trafficking charges. Veloso, who became a single mother after separating from her husband, endured significant hardships while striving to provide for her two children.
“Veloso’s story is a testament to the resilience and sacrifices of countless Filipino solo parents working overseas to secure a better future for their families,” Herrera said in an Inquirer.net report. She emphasized the need for a stronger support system for single OFW mothers and fathers who are often vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
Veloso’s ordeal included fleeing an employer who attempted to assault her in Dubai in 2009 and later falling victim to drug traffickers in 2010 when seeking work in Indonesia. These experiences underscore the risks faced by solo parents working abroad, Herrera noted.
The Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, enacted in 2022, mandates comprehensive support for single parents, including financial assistance for low-income earners, discounts on essential goods, and prioritization in housing and livelihood programs. Herrera stressed the importance of ensuring these provisions are accessible to OFWs and their families.
“The government must enforce the law effectively to guarantee that solo parents, especially those working overseas, receive the assistance they deserve,” she added.
