hil Vi 1X

Republic of the Philippines i

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES > RECEIVED ;
Quezon City

= Dat

ut,

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2661

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO.

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 8972 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOLO
PARENTS WELFARE ACT OF 2000, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND.
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Solo Parent Act of 2000 or Republic Act No. 8972 also known as the Single Parent
Law provides benefits and privileges to solo parents. Solo parents are those who are left alone with
the responsibility of rearing their children regardless of marital status

RA 8972, which was promulgated on November 7, 2000, was enacted to provide a
comprehensive program of social development and welfare services for solo parents and their
children. It also covers fathers or mothers who raise their children by themselves, either because
of the death of a spouse, abandonment, separation, or even those who have children as a result of
rape.

According to a study made by the Department of Health and the University of the
Philippines-National Institute for Health which was funded by the World Health Organization, at
least 14 to 15 percent of the estimated 94 million Filipinos are solo parents, or about 14 million
and 95 percent of it are women. '

Solo parents are considered a vulnerable sector of our society. They are the sole
breadwinners of their families. Financial difficulties associate solo parenthood. They and their
children are subjects of discrimination. There are no existing penalties in case employers refuse 10
observe the mandates of the law on solo-parent employee benefits.

Amendments to the Solo Parent Act of 2000, is highly integral to the success of delivering
benefits, privileges, needs and rights to the solo parents in our country.

Thus, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought,

“KUYA” JOS ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADOY
Representative
First District of Bulacan

* (San Juan, 2018) San Juan, A. (2018, July 13). DSWD to hold 1st National Solo Parents’ Summit. Retrieved from
Manila Bulletin.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2661

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 8972 OHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOLO.
PARENTS WELFARE ACT OF 2000, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

+ Beit enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of the Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 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;

(2) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due death of
spouse;

(3) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood while spouse is
detained or is serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at least one (1) year;

(4) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to physical
and/or mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a public medical practitioner,

(5) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due or legal
separation or de facto separation from spouse for at least fone-}-year}SIX (6)
MONTHS, provided he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children;

(6) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to declaration
of nullity or annulment of marriage as decreed by a court or by a church, provided
he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children;

(7) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to
abandonment of spouse for at least fone-4)-year}-SIX (6) MONTHS;

(8) Unmarried mother/father who has preferred to keep and rear his/her
child/children, who has actual custody of the said child/children, instead of
having others care for them or giving them up to a welfare institution;

(9) Any other person who fselely-prevides-parental-care-and-support-to-a-child-or
children} BEARS SOLE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY A CHILD OR


CHILDREN, INCLUDING A FOSTER PARENT DULY-RECOGNIZED
BY THE DEPARTMENT- OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND
DEVELOPMENT, A LEGAL GUARDIAN APPOINTED BY THE
COURT OR A LEGAL SINGLE ADOPTIVE PARENT; and

(10) Any family member who assumes the responsibility as the head of the family
resulting from the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of
the parents or solo parent

A change in the status or circumstance of the parent claiming benefits under this Act, such that
he/she is no longer left alone with the sole responsibility of parenthood, shall terminate his/her
eligibility for these benefits.

(b) “Children” = refer to those living with the dependent upon the solo parent for support
that are unmarried, unemployed and not more than eighteen (18) years of age, or even
over eighteen (18) years but are incapable of self-support because of mental and/or
physical defect/disability.

(c) “Parental Responsibility” — with respect to their minor children shall refer to the rights
and duties of the parents as defined in Article 220 of Executive Order No. 209, as
amended, otherwise known as the “Family Code of the Philippines”

(4) “Parental Leave’- shall mean leave benefits granted to a solo parent to enable him/her
to perform parental duties and responsibilities where physical presence is required.

(c) “Flexible work schedule” is the right granted to a solo parent employee to vary his/her
arrival and departure time without affecting the core work hours as defined by the
employer

SECTION 2. There shall also be created and inserted Section 4-A to read as follows:

“SECTION 4-A. SOLO PARENT IDENTIFICATION CARD (SPIC)- THE LOCAL
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (LSWDO) SHALL ISSUE THE
SOLO PARENT IDENTIFICATION CARD UPON THE PRESENTATION OF THE
APPLICANT OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

(b) BARANGAY CERTIFICATION CERTIFYING THAT THE SOLO PARENT IS A
RESIDENT OF THE BARANGAY FOR THE LAST SIX (6) MONTHS PRECEDING
THE APPLICATION;

(c) BARANGAY CERTIFICATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT QUALIFIES THE
APPLICANT AS A SOLO PARENT AS REQUIRED BY THIS ACT

(d) CERTIFICATION FROM THE PROPER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AS PROOF
OF BIRTH OF CHILD/CHILDREN, DEATH OF PARENTS OR SPOUSE AND
OTHER DOCUMENTARY SUPPORT TO ATTEST THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
QUALIFIES THE APPLICANT AS A SOLO PARENT;

(e) INCOME TAX RETURN OR ANY EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT THAT
ESTABLISHES THE INCOME OR FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE SOLO PARENT
APPLICANT.


THE SPIC SHALL BE ISSUED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM APPLICATION
THEREOF ‘AND SHALL BE VALID FOR ONE (1) YEAR UPON ISSUANCE
SUBJECT TO RENEWAL.

SECTION 3. Section 8 of the Act is likewise amended to read as follows:

*Section 8, Parental Leave ~ In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, parental leave
or not more than seyen (7) working days WITH PAY every year shall be granted to any solo
parent employee regardless of employment status who has be rendered service of at least fone
)-year} SIX (6) MONTHS.”

SECTION 4, There shall be created and inserted Section 12-A of the Act to read as follows:

“SECTION 12-1. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. — IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING
BENEF! SOLO PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED AS SUCH BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) §
LIKEWISE BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL BENEFI

(1) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF
CLOTHING AND CLOTHING MATERIALS FOR THE CHILD MADE
WITHIN A PERIOD OF UP TO TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE CHILD'S
BIRTH;

(2) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF
BABY’S MILK, FOOF AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS MADE WITHIN A
PERIOD OF TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE CHILD’S BIRTH;

(3) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF
MEDICINES AND OTHER MEDICAL SUPPLIMENT/SUPPIES FOR
THE CHILD MADE WITHIN A PERIOF OF FIVE (5) YEARS FROM
THE CHILD’S BIRTH;

(4) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE CHILD, FOR PURCHASES MADE
FROM THE CHILD'S BIRTH UNTIL TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OF
AGE;

(5) TAX ‘AMNESTY AND/OR REDUCTION OF REAL ESTATE OR
INHERITANCE TAXES OF SOLO PARENT;

(6) BASIC PERSONAL EXEMPTION FROM INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX
IN THE AMOUNT OF FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PHP50,000.00) IN
ADDITION TO THE EXISTING EXEMPTION THAT THE SINGLE
PARENT. MAY CLAIM FOR HIS DEPENDENT CHILD OR
CHILDREN; AND H


(7) TEN PERCENT (10%) TUITION FEE DISCOUNT FROM PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR THE CHILD OR CHILDREN FROM
GRADE SCHOOL TO COLLEGE.

COMPANIES OR BUSINESSES FROM WHOM DISCOUNTED PURCHASES ARE
MADE AS PER THE IMMEDIATELY FOREGOING SECTION SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO CLAIM THE SAID DISCOUNTS AS PART OF THEIR BUSINESS
EXPENSE, PROVIDED THAT, THEY MAINTAIN DETAILED AND SEPARATE
RECORDS OF SAID PURCHA:

SECTION 5. There shall also be created and inserted Section 13-A to read as follows:

“SECTION 13-A, PENALTIES —- ANY PERSON, CORPORATION, ENTITY OR
AGENCY WHICH REFUSES OR FAILS TO PROVIDE THE BENEFITS GRANTED
TO SOLO PARENTS IN VIOLATION OF THIS ACT SHALL SUFFER THE
FOLLOWING PENALTIES:

(1) FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION - A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN TEN
THOUSAND PESOS (PHP10,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIFTY
THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 50,000.00) OR IMPRISIONMENT OF NOT LESS
THAN SIX (6) MONTHS BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE (1) YEAR, OR
BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.

_ 2) FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION — A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 100,000.00) BUT NOT MORE

,.. THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 200,000.00) OR
IMPROSONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN ONE (1) YEAR BUT NOT MORE.
THAN TWO (2) YEARS, OR BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
CouRT.

ANY PERSON WHO MISINTERPRETS THE STATUS OR FALSIFIES ANY
DOCUMENT TO AVAIL OF THE BENEFITS PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT OR
ANY PERSON WHO ABUSES THE PRIVILEGES GRANTED HEREIN SHALL BE
PUNISHED WITH A FINE NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php
10,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php 50,000.00) AND
IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN SIX (6) MONTHS.

IF THE OFFENDER IS A CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP OR ORGANIZATION
OR ANY SIMILAR ENTITY, EMPLOYEES, AND OFFICIALS THEREFORE
DIRECTLY INVOLVED SHALL INDIVIDUALLY BE HELD LIABLE THEREFORE.

IF THE VIOLATOR IS AN ALIEN OR A FOREIGNER, HE SHALL BE DEPORTED
IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE OF 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 THAT FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE PROVISION OF THIS ACT.


UPON FINDING OF THE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE THAT A DEPARTMENT,
AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALLY OF THE GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT
OWNED OR CONTROLLED CORPORATION (GOCC) OR A_ LOCAL
GOVERNMENT 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 THE AGENCY OR THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE PERSON
DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLATION.”

SECTION 6, Rules and Regulations of the Interagency Committee. — Within a period of
not more than sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Interagency Committee
created by the Act shall come up with the rules and regulations necessary for the proper
implementation of the amendments to the same.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative orders
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any\ provision of this Act is held invalid or
uneOnstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect. eG h

< This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
ficial Gazette or in at least two, (2) newspaper of general

eirculation.

hihi

Approved,