HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

HOUSE BILLNO.___ 888

Introduced by Representative Rosenda Ann Ocampo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Parenting is not an easy task. It entails dedication, sacrifice and commitment. This
responsibility becomes much more difficult and challenging when it is shouldered alone by a
person who become such either by choice or by circumstances that are beyond control.

According to the latest government statistics, solo parents now constitute around 15% of
the population or equivalent to 14 million Filipinos. This staggering number of Filipinos bearing
the burden of raising their own children by themselves have to work twice harder in order to
support and sustain the needs of their children

The continued increase in the number of solo parents has led to the passage of RA 8972
or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000. The law provided non-monetary benefits that give some
respite to the solo parents’ predicament of playing multiple roles all at once just to ensure that
their children grow up to become responsible and productive citizens someday. However,
additional benefits are still needed to help solo parents in their struggle for better life. They are
likewise entitled to discounts given to other marginalized sectors like the seniors and the PWDs

This bill thus aims to strengthen Republic Act 8972 by granting additional benefits to
qualified solo parents which will include discounts, housing, comprehensive package of social
benefits, flexible work schédule, parental leave, educational benefits, scholarships and reducing
the waiting period from one (1) year to six (6) months for which a person can be qualified as a
solo parent. Penalties are imposed to ensure its effective implementation

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

‘OSENDA ANN OCAMPO,



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 388

Introduced by Representative Rosenda Ann Ocampo

AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO SOLO PARENTS AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 8972, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOLO PARENTS
WELFARE ACT OF 2000”

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

SECTION 1. Sections 2 and 3 of Republic Act No. 8972 are hereby amended as follows:

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy —It is the policy of the State to promote the family as
the foundation of the nation, strengthen its solidarity and to ensure its total development
Towards this end, it shall develop a comprehensive program of services for solo parents and their
children to be carried out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the
Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical
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,

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

the child and bears sole and lone parenting responsibility;

XXX


(3) Parent who bears sole and lone parenting responsibility while the spouse is
detained or is serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at least six (6)
months,

XXX

(5) Parent who bears sole and lone parenting responsibility due to legal separation or
de facto separation from spouse for at least six (6) months, as long as the solo
parent is entrusted with the custody of the child or children;

XXX

(7) Parent who bears sole and lone parenting responsibility of parenthood due to
abandonment of spouse for at least (6) months;

XXX

(9) Any legal guardian, adoptive or foster parent who solely provides parental care
and support to a child or children;

XXX

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

SECTION 2. Sections 4 and 5 of the Act are hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 4. Criteria for Support ~ Any solo parent whose income in the place of
domicile falls below the poverty threshold as set by the National Statistics Coordination Board
(NSCB) and subject to the assessment of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) local social welfare officer 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.

SECTION 5. Comprehensive Package of Social Development and Welfare Services ~ A
comprehensive package of social development and welfare services for solo parents and their
families shall be developed by the Secretary of the DSWD in coordination with the Department
of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education
(CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA), Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Interior
and Local Government (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 in the Philippines (NCWP), Union of Local
Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and local government units and non-government
organizations with proven track record in providing services for solo parents.”


XXX

SECTION 3. Sections 8, 9 and 10 of the same Act are hereby 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 every year shall be granted to any solo
parent employee who has rendered service of at least six (6) months.

SECTION 9. Educational Benefits - The 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

SECTION 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 the
poverty line as declared by the NSCB.”

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

“SECTION 13. SOLO PARENT IDENTIFICATION CARD (SPIC) — UPON
QUALIFICATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPER DOCUMENTS, AN
IDENTIFICATION CARD APPROVED BY THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHERE
THE SOLO PARENT BY THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.

SECTION 14. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS — A SOLO PARENT SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:

a.) TEN PERCENT (10%) DISCOUNT ON CHILDREN’S CLOTHING MATERIALS
FOR ALL PURCHASES MADE WITHIN TWO (2) YEARS FROM BIRTH OF
THE CHILD OF THE SOLO PARENT.

b.) FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT ON BABY’S MILK, FOOD AND FOOD
SUPPLEMENT FOR ALL PURCHASES MADE WITHIN TWO (2) YEARS
FROM BIRTH OF THE CHILD OF THE SOLO PARENT.

¢.) FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT ON ALL PURCHASES OF THE SOLO
PARENT OF MEDICINES AND OTHER MEDICAL SUPPLEMENT OR
SUPPLIES THAT SHALL BE USED BY THE CHILD WHO ARE FIVE (5)
YEARS OLD AND BELOW.


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 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.

SECTION 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:

a.) DSWD Secretary as Chair;

b.) DOH Secretary or any authorized representative;

c.) DepEd Secretary or any authorized representative;

d.) DOLE Secretary or any authorized representative;

e.) DILG Secretary or any authorized representative;

£) DTI Secretary or any authorized representative;

g.) Commissioner of the BIR or any authorized representative;

h.) Chair of the CHED or any authorized representative;

i.) Chair of the CSC or any authorized representative;

j.) Chair of the NCWP or any authorized representative;

k.) Director General of the NEDA or any authorized representative;
1.) General Manager of the NHA or any authorized representative;
m.) A representative of the ULAP.

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

SECTION 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 VIOLATION ~ A FINE 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 THAN
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, OR 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
IMMEDIATELY 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 PROVISION OF THIS ACT.

ANY PERSON WHO MISREPRESENTS STATUS OR FALSIFIES 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 OF
NOT LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P 10,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIFTY
THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) AND IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS THAN SIX (6)
MONTHS.

UPON FINDING BY THE DSWD THAT A DEPARTMENT AGENCY, OR
INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR
CONTROLLED CORPORATION (GOCC) OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT, HAS
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 5. Sections 13 and 14 of the same Act are hereby renumbered as Section 17 and 18
and amended as follows:

“SECTION [13] 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations ~ Within ninety (90) days from
the 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, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act



SECTION [14] 18. Appropriations — The amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the concerned government agencies under the
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the concerned agencies
under the annual General Appropriations Act.

Government agencies may utilize a portion of their respective budget for gender and
development programs and activities 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 structures of society to achieve
gender equality and emphasize the fundamental role of women as active agents of development
and not just passive recipients of assistance.

SECTION 6. Sections 15, 16 and 17 of the same Act, are hereby renumbered as Sections 19, 20
and 21, respectively

SECTION 7. All laws, decrees, executive orders or issuances, or any part thereof which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed accordingly.

SECTION 8. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen(15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,