DSWD, PAO reinforce partnership to provide free legal service to solo parents

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Public Attorney’s Office sign a supplemental Memorandum of Agreement to provide additional protection to solo parents and their children on September 19.

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In an effort to ensure the welfare of solo parents, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) forged a new commitment with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on, Monday, September 19, to expand the existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the provision of legal assistance to its qualified clients.

DSWD Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo and Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta signed the supplemental MOA to enforce the provision of free legal services to single parents and their children seeking financial support from the liable parents.

The partnership was sought by DSWD following the influx of requests for assistance from lone-parents in relation to lack of financial and child support from their partners.

“The current administration has identified the need to provide and extend legal advice and assistance to victims of economic abuse, particularly those children and solo parents who need legal services to enforce financial and moral support from the concerned father and spouse,” Secretary Tulfo said.

PAO committed to extend free legal services and representation to qualified and willing complainants in cases involving enforcement of child support by establishing public attorney’s office in DSWD.

“The supplemental MOA will strengthen our services to DSWD clients, specifically [those who] need assistance regarding their difficulties on having spouses, or partners, or with dating relationships commit to their responsibilities in providing financial support to respective children,” Atty. Acosta said.

In 2013, the DSWD and PAO signed the original MOA with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for the provision of legal assistance and other legal services to qualified beneficiaries, particularly victims of Violence Against Women and Children, Children in Conflict with the Law, and local prospective adoptive parents who are biological parents or step-parents of the prospective adoptees in adoption cases.

Through the supplemental MOA, the DSWD, together with PAO, hopes to provide additional protection to solo parents and their children. ###

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