DSWD partners with PAO for filing of complaints vs. deadbeat dads

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday said it has partnered with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to file complaints against estranged fathers who fail to provide financial support to their children.

At a public briefing, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said the Department previously would just write to these estranged fathers and urge them to help pay for their children's upbringing.

“Ngayon, medyo nilagyan natin ng pangil yan. We coordinated with the PAO kasi nasa batas yan. [Now, we put teeth into addressing the issue. We coordinated with the PAO because it is already in the law],” he said.

Tulfo said that not providing financial support for one's children is a violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act and the Family Code of the Philippines.

Recently, DSWD and PAO signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the provision of legal assistance to solo parents and their children.

“The supplemental MOA will strengthen our services to DSWD clients, specifically 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,” PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said.

Under the VAWC Act, violators may be sanctioned with jail time of at least six months and one day to six years. — BM, GMA News