Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5059

Introduced by Representative TYRONE D. AGABAS

AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO SOLO PARENTS
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOLO PARENTS WELFARE ACT OF
2000”, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to expand the coverage and benefits of solo parents in
the country.

The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of
the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall
receive the support of the Government (Section 12, Article II, 1987
Constitution). To this end, the State shall give support to solo parents who
stand alone in the raising and rearing of their children.

At present, more and more women are now facing the challenge of
raising their children independently as solo parent due to the death,
criminal conviction, marital separation, or poverty of their partners. While
they have embraced, voluntarily or involuntarily, the idea of being a solo
parent, the thought of rearing children alone as compared to rearing
children under a framework of a fully functional family is dreading. To
address this gap or inequality, legislative measures must continually
evolve to appropriately respond to the needs and demands of solo parents.
Since its enactment in 2000, the solo parent welfare act has not undergone
any amendment in regard to the grant of additional benefits to solo
parents. It is but just right to introduce amendment to said law in order
to protect both the solo parent and his or her children.


‘There being an imperative need to increase and expand the benefits
given to solo parents, it is hereby requested that this bill be passed.

aes D. AGABAS

Representative
6th District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5059

AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO SOLO PARENTS
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOLO PARENTS WELFARE ACT OF
2000”, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

1 Section 1. Section 2 and 3 of Republic Act No. 8972 hereby
2 amended to read as follows:
3 “SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to
4 promote the family as the foundation of the nation, strengthen its
5 solidarity and ensure its total development. Toward this end, it
6 shall develop a comprehensive program of services for solo
7 parents and their children to be carried out by the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of
9 Health, the [Department of Education, Culture, and Sports
10 (DECS)] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED), the
u Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the

12 Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical

Page 1


13
14
15
16

7
18

19
20

22
23
24
25

26

27
28
29

31

32
33
34
35
36
37

38

Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the
National Housing Authority (NHA), the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) and other related government and non-

government agencies.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - Whenever used in this Act, the
following terms shall mean as follows:

a) “Solo Parent” — any individual who falls under any of the
following categories:

(1) A woman who gives birth as a result of rape and other
crimes against chastity even without a final conviction of
the offender: Provided, That the mother keeps [and raises]
the child AND BEARS SOLO AND LONE PARENTING
RESPONSIBILITY;

XXX

(3)

Parent [left solo or alone with the] WHO BEARS SOLE AND
LONE PARENTING responsibility [of parenthood] while the
spouse is detained or is serving sentence for a criminal
conviction for at least [one (1) year] SIX (6) MONTHS;

XXX

(5)

Parent [left solo or alone with the] WHO BEARS SOLE AND
LONE PARENTING responsibility [of parenthood] due to
legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for at
least [one (1) year] SEX (6) MONTHS, as long as [he/she]
THE SOLO PARENT is entrusted with the custody of
children;

Page 2


41

42

43

5

45
46

47

49
50
51

52

53

55
56

(7) Parent [left solo or alone with the] WHO BEARS SOLO AND
LONE PARENTING responsibility of parenthood due to
abandonment of spouse for at least [one (1) year] SIX
MONTHS;

XXX

(9) Any [other person] LEGAL GUARDIAN, ADOPTIVE OR
FOSTER PARENT who solely provides parental care and
support to a child or children;

XXX

(11) PARENT WHO BEARS SOLO AND LONE PARENTING
RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO DISABILITY OR INCAPACITY
OF THE OTHER SPOUSE TO BE EMPLOYED FOR AT
LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS;

XXX

(e) “Flexible work schedule” - is the right granted to a solo
parent employee to vary [his/her] THE arrival and departure
time IN THE OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT without affecting the
core work hours as defined by the employer.”

SECTION 2. Section 4 and 5 of the same Act are hereby amended to

read as follows:

“SEC. 4. Criteria for Support. - Any solo parent whose income in
the place of domicile falls below the poverty threshold as set by
the [National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)]
NATIONAL STATISTICS COORDINATION BOARD (NCSB), [and]
subject to the assessment of the [DSWD worker] CITY OR
MUNICIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Page 3


65
66
7

69
70
n
nR
B
74
75
76
7
78
79

81

82
83

87

89
90

in the area WHERE THE SOLO PARENT RESIDES, shall be
eligible for assistance: Provided, however, That any solo parent
whose income is above the poverty threshold shall enjoy the
benefits mentioned in Sections 6, 7 and 8 of this Act.

SEC. 5. Comprehensive Package of Social Development and
Welfare Services. - A comprehensive package of social
development and welfare services for solo parents and their
families [will] SHALL be developed by the [DSWD] SECRETARY
OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, IN
COORDINATION WITH THE DOH, [DECS] DEPED, CHED,
TESDA, DOLE, NHA, [and] DILG, DEPARTMENT OF TRADE
AND INDUSTRY (DTI), BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE
(BIR), NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY (NEDA), CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (CSC),
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF THE PHILIPPINES
(NCWP), UNION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF THE
PHILIPPINES (ULAP), [in coordination with and] local
government units, and a non-governmental organization with

proven track record in providing services to solo parents.
hoc
SECTION 3. Section 8, 9 and 10 of the same Act are hereby

amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 8. Parental Leave. ~ In addition to leave privileges under
existing laws, parental leave of not more than seven (7) working
days every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee who
has rendered service of at least [one (1) year] SEX (6) MONTHS.

Page 4


91
92

93
94
95

96

97
98

100
101

102
103

104
105
106
107
108
109
110

1

112

113
114
115
116

SEC. 9. Educational Benefits. - The [DECS] DEPED, CHED and
TESDA shall provide the following benefits and privileges:

(1) Scholarship programs for qualified solo parents and their
children in institutions of basic, tertiary, and technical OR
VOCATIONAL skills education; and

XXX

SEC. 10. Housing Benefits. - Solo parents shall be given
allocation in housing projects and shall be provided with liberal
terms of payment on said government low-cost housing projects
in accordance with housing law provisions prioritizing applicants
below poverty line as declared by the [NEDA] NSCB.”

SECTION 4. New sections to be denominated as Sections 13, 14, 15
and 16 are hereby added to read as follows:

SEC. 13. SOLO PARENT IDENTIFICATION CARD (SPIC). -
UPON APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPER
DOCUMENTS, AN IDENTIFICATION CARD APPROVED BY THE
LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHERE THE SOLO PARENT
RESIDES, SHALL BE ISSUED TO THE QUALIFIED SOLO
PARENT BY THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND
DEVELEOPMENT OFFICER.

SEC. 14. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. - A SOLO PARENT SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

A) TEN PERCENT (10%) DISCOUNT ON CHILDREN’S
CLOTHING MATERIALS FOR ALL PURCHASES MADE
WITHIN TWELVE (12) YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF THE
CHILD OF THE SOLO PARENT;

Page 5


17
118
119
120

121
122
123
124
125

126
127
128
129

130
131
132
133
134
135

136
137
138
139
140
141
142

143

B)

c)

TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT ON BABY’S MILK,
FOOD AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS FOR ALL PUCHASES
MADE WITHIN TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF THE
CHILD OF THE SOLO PARENT;

TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT ON ALL PURCHASES
OF THE SOLO PARENT OF MEDICINES AND OTHER
MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTS OR SUPPLIES THAT SHALL BE
USED BY THE CHILD WHO IS BELOW EIGHTEEN (18)
YEARS OLD .

TO AVAIL OF THESE BENEFITS, THE SOLO PARENT
SHALL SUBMIT OR PRESENT THE SOLO PARENT
IDENTIFICATION CARD AND THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE
OF THE CHILD OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF ENTITLEMENT.

THE CORPORATION OR BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT
THAT GIVES A DISCOUNT TO THE SOLO PARENT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO CLAIM THE DISCOUNT GIVEN AS A BUSINESS
EXPENSE SUBJECT TO PROPER RECORDING AND
DOCUMENTATION.

SEC. 15. INTER -AGENCY COORDINATING AND MONITORING
COMMITTEE. - A SPECIAL INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE,
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE COMMITTEE, SHALL
BE ESTABLISHED TO COORDINATE AND MONITOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. THE COMMITTEE, WHICH
SHALL BE CONSTITUTED WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS UPON
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, SHALL BE COMPOSED OF
THE FOLLOWING:

Page 6


144
145

146
147

148
149

150
151

152
153

154
155

156

157
158

159
160

161
162

163
164

165
166

A)

c)

D)

E)

F)

G)

1)

J)

K)

L)

SECRETARY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT,
AS CHAIRPERSON;

SECRETARY OF HEALTH OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE;

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE;

SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

SECRETARY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE;

CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION;

CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON CIVIL
SERVICE;

CHAIRPERSON OF PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON
WOMEN;

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY;

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL HOUSING
AUTHORITY;

Page 7


167
168

169
170

171

172

173
174

175
176
177

178
179
180
181

182
183
184
185
186
187

188
189
190
191

M) SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NEDA);

N) CHAIRPERSON OF NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MUSLIM
FILIPINOS (NCMF);

©) NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
(NCIP); AND

P) <A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION OF LOCAL
AUTHORITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS MEMBERS.

THE COMMITTEE SHALL SUBMIT A REGULAR REPORT
TO CONGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT
EVERY THREE (3) YEARS FOLLOWING ITS EFFECTIVITY.

SEC. 16. PENALTIES. - ANY PERSON, CORPORATION, ENTITY
OR AGENCY WHO REFUSES OR FAILS TO PROVIDE THE
BENEFITS GRANTED TO THE SOLO PARENT IN VIOLATION
OF THIS ACT SHALL SUFFER THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES:

1) FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION - A FINE OF NOT LESS
THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) BUT NOT
MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) OR
IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) MONTHS
BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE (1) YEAR, OR BOTH, AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE COURT;

2) FOR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS - A FINE OF NOT LESS
THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00)
BUT NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND
PESOS (P200,000.00) OR IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS

Page 8


192

193

195
196
197
198
199
200

201
202
203
204

205
206
207
208
209
210
211

212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219

220
221
222
223

THA ONE (1) YEAR BUT NOT MORE THAN TWO (2)
YEARS, OR BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.

IF THE OFFENDER IS A CORPORATION,
PARTNERSHIP, ORGANIZATION OR ANY SIMILAR
ENTITY, THE EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS DIRECTLY
INVOLVED SUCH AS THE PRESIDENT, GENERAL
MANAGER, MANAGING PARTNER OR OTHER OFFICER
CHARGED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF ITS AFFAIRS
SHALL BE LIABLE THEREFOR.

IF THE OFFENDER IS AN ALIEN, THE OFFENDER
SHALL BE DEPORTED IMMIDIATELY AFTER SERVICE
OF SENTENCE WITHOUT FURTHER DEPORTATION
PROCEEDINGS.

UPON FILING OF AN APPROPRIATE COMPLAINT,
AND AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING, THE PROPER
AUTHORITIES MAY ALSO CAUSE THE CANCELLATION
OR REVOCATION OF THE BUSINESS PERMIT, PERMIT
TO OPERATE, FRANCHISE AND OTHER SIMILAR
PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO ANY BUSINESS ENTITY THAT
FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

ANY PERSON WHO MISREPRESENTS STATUS OR
FALSIFIES ANY DOCUMENT TO AVAIL OF BENEFITS
PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT OR ANY PERSON WHO
ABUSES THE PRIVILEGES GRANTED HEREIN SHALL BE
PUNISHED WITH A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TEN
THOUSAND PESOS (P10,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN
FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) AND
IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) MONTHS.

UPON FINDING OF THE DSWD THAT A
DEPARTMENT, AGENCY, OR INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE
GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT-OWED OR CONTOLLED
CORPORATION (GOCC) OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Page 9


224
225
226
227
228
229

230
231

232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244

245
246
247
248

249
250
251
252

253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260

UNIT, HAD VIOLATED ANY PROVISION OF THIS ACT,
SANCTIONS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, CIVIL
SERVICE OR OTHER LAWS MAY BE RECOMMENDED TO
THE CSC OR THE DILG AGAINST THE HEAD OF AGENCY
OR THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE PERSON
DIRECTLY RESPONSICBLE FOR THE VIOLATION.”

SECTION 5. Sections 13 and 14 of the same Act are hereby
renumbered as Sections 17 and 18 and amended to read as follows:

“SEC. [13] 17. Implementing Rules and Regulation. — [An
interagency committee headed by] WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS
FROM APPROVAL OF THIS ACT, the DSWD SHALL, in
CONSULTATION AND coordination with the DOH, DEPED,
CHED, TESDA, DOLE, NHA, and DILG, DTI, BIR, NEDA, CSC,
NCMF, NCIP, PCW, AND ULAP [is hereby established which shall
formulate, within ninety (90) days upon the effectivity of this Act,
the implementing rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act in consultation with the local
government units, non-governmental organizations and people’s
organizations.], ISSUE THE NECESSARY RULES AND
REGULATIONS FOR THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS ACT.

SEC. [14] 18. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the budget of the
concerned government agencies in the ANNUAL General
Appropriations Act (GAA).

“GOVERNMENT AGENCIES MAY UTILIZE A PORTION OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE BUDGET FOR PROGRAMS AND
ACTIVITIES ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT TO IMPLEMENT
THIS ACT.

FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, GENDER AND
DEVELOPMENT REFERS TO PROCESSES UNDERTAKEN BY
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ADDRESS GENDER ISSUES AND
TRANSFORM THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
STRUCTURES OF THE SOCIETY TO ACHIEVE GENDER
EQUALITY AND EMPHASIZE THE FUNDAMENTAL ROLE OF
WOMEN AS ACTIVE AGENTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND NOT
JUST PASSIVE RECIPIENTS OF ASSISTANCE.”

Page 10


259
260

261
262
263

264

Section 6. Section 15, 16 and 17 of the same Act, are hereby
renumbered as Se ction 19, 20 and 21, respectively.

Section 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers
of national circulation.

Approved,

Page 11