Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City ;

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1384

Introduced by Hon. Margarita Ignacia 8. Nograles

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State recognizes the Filipino family as
the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively
promote its total development.” The family indeed plays a critical role in Philippine society
as it is the primary unit which provides for the physical and emotional needs of its
members, and it is also where values and beliefs are first transmitted and formed.

The typical Filipino family is, by its nature, extended and closely-knit. It is not
unusual in a number of Filipino families that the children who have already graduated
from college and have begun working, or even those who stopped attending schoo! to
find work due to poverty, would eventually become the breadwinners of their families.

in almost all cases nationwide, many of such single individuals’ function like a solo
parent and bears the most burden in the family. The older children usually support the
schooling of their younger siblings. The unmarried or single children, on the other hand,
more often than not, support their parents especially when the latter are advancing in age
or are in custody of relatives who have been limited by disabilities. Moreover, some single
or unmarried individuals likewise provide financial support to the children of their siblings,
or serve as guardians in cases where their siblings are abroad or are financially incapable
‘of supporting their own children.

This stark reality behooves us to provide additional benefits and privileges to
single or unmarried individuals with dependents through giving them leave privileges and
a flexible working schedule, both of which will enable them to have more time to attend
to various family matters. This is to recognize their sacrifice and their financial and moral
contribution for the strengthening of the Filipino family.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Awa


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.13§4

Introduced by Hon. Margarita Ignacia B. Nograles

AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR THE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO SINGLE PERSONS AND

THEIR DEPENDENTS APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Single Persons’ Welfare Act.”

SEC. 2.- Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the family as
the foundation of the nation, to strengthen its solidarity, and to ensure its total
development. Towards this end, the State shall develop a comprehensive program of
services for single persons and their dependents to be carried out by pertinent
government and non-govemment agencies.

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

(a) "Single Person’ - refers to any individual who is not legally married, or to anyone
who was previously married but whose marriage was subsequently annulled or declared
Void ab initio, legaty separated, and who exercises custody on or financially supports or aids
someone not his or her child,

Any change in the status or circumstance of the single person claiming the benefits and
privileges under this Act, such that he or she has contracted a valid marriage, shall
terminate his or her eligibility for the said benefits and privileges.

(b) "Dependent" - refers to any person whose support and maintenance is
contingent upon the aid of the single person such as the latter's minor siblings, minor
nephews or nieces, unemployed parents and ascendants and relatives up to the 4th
degree of consanguinity who have disabilities.


SEC. 4. Scope. - This Act shall be applicable to all single persons who has a dependent
as defined herein, except to those single persons who fall under the coverage of Republic
Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents’ Welfare Act

SEC. 5. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 11861 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC 9. Educational Benefits. - The DepEd, CHED, and TESDA shall
provide scholarship programs for soto parents and a full school
scholarship for a maximum of two children of a solo parent in institutions
of basic, higher and technical vocational skills education: Provided, That
the said solo parents or child of a solo parents has all the qualifications
set for the scholarship program of the DepEd, CHED, set for the
scholarship program of the DepEd, CHED or TESDA: Provided, further,
That the other children, if any of a solo parent shall be given priority in
education programs under Republic Act No. 10687, otherwise known as
the ‘Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education
(UniFAST) Act, Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the
"Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act’, and other laws
relating to education programs of the government. Non-formal education
programs appropriate for solo parents and their children may, likewise,
be provided.

‘SEC. 6 Section 12 of Republic Act No. 1186

is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC 15. Additional Benefits — A solo parent shall be entitled to the following
additional benefits:

(a) Means-, pension-, and subsidy-tested monthly cash subsidy of One
thousand Five Hundred pesos (P1,500.00) per month per solo parent
who is eaming a minimum wage and below, to be allocated in
accordance with Section 17(b)(2)(iv) of the Local Government Code:
Provided, That for fifth (5"") class municipalities with the highest poverty
incidence based on the latest municipal-level small area poverty
estimates, cash subsidy allocations may be taken from the Gender and
Development (GAD) budget and the amount of cash subsidy per
recipient may be dependent on the amount of the GAD budget:
Provided, further, That the solo parent under this section is not a
recipient of any other cash assistance or subsidy from any other
government programs: Provided, finally, That a beneficiary who is also
a senior citizen or a person with disability (PWD) may continue receiving
senior citizen or PWD benefits without forfeiting the benefits under this
Act;

SEC 7. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 11861 is hereby amended to read as follows:

(a) Flexible Work From Home Schedule. - The employer shall endeavor to provide a
flexible working schedule and other considerations for single employees upon
determination that such single persons have dependents or function as the provider
or head of the family. Further, the employer shall endeavor to provide at least once
a week for a Work From Home Schedule to be with his/her children: Provided, That
the same shall not affect individual and company productivity: Provided, further, That
any employer may request an exemption from the above requirements from the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on certain meritorious grounds.


SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOLE, in coordination with
concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations within sixty days (60) from the effectivity of this Act. The said IRR shall include
the procedures to determine the qualifications of persons covered by this Act.

SEC. 8. 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.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Actis held invalid or unconstitutional,
other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved,