Peso By Peso: Comparing Adaptive Practices of Solo Parents Across Income Levels in Balanga City, Bataan, and Olongapo City, Zambales

Abstract

Solo parents are prevalent in the Philippines, they live very differently than most of us and this can be seen in the ways they adapt and change their financial, emotional, and social status. The knowledge of the researchers was limited when it came to how these individuals managed their adaptive practices across different income levels. Thus, this research empirically assessed the adaptive practices of solo parents across income levels in Balanga City, and Olongapo City, Zambales. Anchored under Maslow’s Hierarch of Needs and the Stress and Coping Theory, the study conducted surveys on 363 respondents from two cities. The findings reveal key insights into the socio-economic conditions, life choices and coping mechanisms of the respondents, first that most never opted to get married, usually they are vendors and live on meagerly low-income salaries. In addition, it also showed that most of the Olongapeños are receptive to Government programs unlike those living in Balanga. Furthermore, the findings showed that income level significantly influences the way solo parents managed their daily lives. As they face these challenges they demonstrate adaptive practices by modifying their financial decisions, lifestyles choices, household management to cope with limited resources. Lastly, the results of the assessment became the basis for the policy and program suggested by the research, two programs were proposed for each of the cities, the Balanga Solo Parent Economic Empowerment and Inclusion Program (BSP-EEIP) to address the lack of social awareness of solo parents and the Olongapo City Resilience and Childcare Assistance Program (OC-RCAP) that will strengthen and target childcare support. These proposed programs aimed to enhanced the well-being of solo parents. The researchers found significant association between adaptive practices across income levels of solo parents.