March 29, 2024

Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. has proposed an ordinance granting a 20 percent discount in hotel and restaurant establishments to solo parents in Baguio City.

The ordinance shall apply to all duly registered solo parents in the city whose income falls below the poverty threshold as set by the National Economic and Development Authority and was assessed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). 

According to the ordinance, restaurants, hotels, and similar establishments shall grant a 20 percent discount on the total bill of any solo parent provided they have a solo parent identification card issued by the CSWDO.

The proposed ordinance contains a penal provision indicating that non-compliant establishments shall be penalized with a fine ranging from P1,000 to 3,000.

The proposed ordinance has been approved on first reading by the Baguio City Council and referred to the committee on social services, women, and urban poor for review.

If and when approved, the proposed 20 percent discount would be an additional privilege/benefit for solo parents in the city who are already given a 10 percent discount in the purchase of certain goods and in certain services pursuant to an existing city ordinance (Ordinance 99-2018).

Under Ordinance 99-2018, solo parents in the city are given a 10 percent discount in the purchase of baby’s milk, food, and food supplements made within a period of three years from the child’s birth; purchase of medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplies for the child made within a period of 18 years from the child’s birth; hospital bills of solo parents when any of their children is admitted to a public or private hospital; purchase of school supplies for the child made within 18 years from the child’s birth; school tuition fee per child who is in elementary, high school or college in a public or private school/university; and consultation and laboratory diagnostic fee was well as purchase of medicines for solo parents and their dependents. – Jordan G. Habbiling