Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. ____ S318

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOLO
PARENTS’ WELFARE ACT OF 2010, PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
ON BASIC COMMODITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 8972, otherwise known as the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act,
provides for the renumeration and privileges of a solo parent. Said law mandates the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assist solo parents
through social development and welfare services such as livelihood development
services, counseling services, parent effectiveness services, critical incidence stress

debriefing and other special projects for individuals in need of protection.

Even with these privileges, double hardship still saddles solo parents. They
perform parental duties single-handedly in the face of economic turmoil
characterized by skyrocketing prices, poverty and massive unemployment. As such,
there is a necessity to amend the existing law to address the financial concerns of

solo parents amidst the economic difficulties that the country is experiencing.

Solo parents are considered one of the vulnerable sectors of society. Based
on a World Health Organization-funded study by the Department of Health and the

University of the Philippines-National Institute for Health, about 14 million Filipinos

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are solo parents which is at least 14 to 15 percent of the country’s total population.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, about three (3) million household
head without a spouse. The total cost to provide for a child/children from age 0 to 2
amounts to at least One Million Pesos, according to recent surveys. This amount is a

burden for parents but is a greater burden for solo parents.

This bill aims to provide additional support and benefits to solo parents. Such
benefits include:

1. Ten percent (10%) discount from all purchases of clothing and clothing
materials for the child two (2) years from child birth;

2. Fifteen percent (15%) discount from all purchases of baby’s milk, food,
and food supplements;

3. Fifteen percent (15%) discount from all purchases of medicines and other
medical supplements/supplies for the child; and

4. Basic personal exemption from individual income tax.

The enactment of this proposed measure will help alleviate the financial
burden carried by solo parents by affording them additional remuneration. Through
this, we are assessing the solo parents to be able to provide a better future for their

children.

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly

‘sought.

Lone LEGARDA


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Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3911

HOUSE BILL NO.

introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2072, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOLO
PARENTS’ WELFARE ACT OF 2010, PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
ON BASIC COMMODITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it 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) Awoman 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 to death of spouse;

(3) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood
while the spouse is detained or is serving sentence for a

criminal conviction for a period of at least one (1) year;


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

(5) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood
due to legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for
at least one (1) year, 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 one (1) year;

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

(9) Any other person who solely provides parental care and
support to a child or children, provided said person was
entrusted with the custody of the children;

(10) Any family member who assumes the responsibility as the
head of the family resulting from 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


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benefits. Said benefits shall seize to be available by the end of the year

when the parent was last deemed a solo parent as defined by this Act.

Provided, that, a single parent who is receiving support from the child's

other parent shall not be eligible to receive the benefits under Section 12-

Aoof the Act.

b. “Children” — refer to those living with and dependent upon the solo
parent for support who 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.”

d. ‘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.

e. “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. Section 8 of this Act is likewise amended to read as follows:

“Section 8. Parental Leave —In addition to leave privileges under existing
laws, parental leave of not more than seven (7) working days with pay
every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee who has

rendered service of at least one (1) year.”


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SECTION 3. There shall be created and inserted Section 12-A of the Act to

read as follows:

“Section 12-A. Additional Benefits. — In addition to the foregoing benefits,

solo parents who have been qualified as such by the Department of

Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall likewise be entitled to

the following additional benefits:

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Ten percent (10%) 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;

. Fifteen percent (15%) discount from all purchases of baby’s milk,

food and food supplements made within a period of two (2) years

from child birth;

}. Fifteen percent (15%) discount from all purchases of medicines and

other medical supplements/supplies for the child made within a
period of five (5) years from the child's birth; and

Basic personal exemption from the individual income tax in the
amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) in addition to the
existing exemption that the single parent may claim for his/her

dependent child or children.

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 purchases.

SECTION 4. There shall also be created and inserted Section 13-A to read as

follows:


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“Section 13-A. Penalties. — Any person or company who violates the
provisions of this Act by denying or hindering a solo parent from availing
of any of the benefits of this Act shall be penalized by a fine of not less
than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) for the first violation; One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) for the second violation;
and Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00) for the third
violation.

In addition to said fine, the said business may be ordered closed by the

appropriate implementing agency.

SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations by the Interagency Committee. - Within a
period of not more than sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Interagency Committee crated by the Act shall come up with the rules and
regulations necessary for the proper implementation of the amendments to the

same.

SECTION 6. 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 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue
in full force and effect.


SECTION 8. Effectivity. - 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,