Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Second Regular Session
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

390

HOUSE BILL No..

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EMI CALIXTO-RUBIANO

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 the
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 provide non-monetary benefits that.
give some respite to the solo parent's predicament of playing multiple roles all at once just to
ensure that their children grow up to become responsible and productive citizens some day.
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 aim to strengthen Republic Act 8972 by granting additional benefits to
qualified solo parents which will include discounts, housing, comprehensive package of
social benefits, flexible working schedule, 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.

pile

EMI CALIXTO-RUBIANO
Representative
Lone District of Pasay City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Second Regular Session
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

7390

HOUSE BILL No..

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EMI CALIXTO-RUBIANO

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 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), the
Department of Education[, Culture and Sports (DECS)] (DepEd), the 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 [and raises] 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 serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at
least [one (1) year] SIX (6) MONTHS;

XXX

(6) Parent who bears sole and lone parenting responsibility due to legal
separation or de facto separation from the spouse for at least [one (1)
year] SIX (6) MONTHS, as long as [he/she] 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 [one (1) year] SIX (6)
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

(e) “Flexible work schedule” — is the right granted to a solo parent employee to
vary his/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 [Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA)] STATISTICAL COORDINATION BOARD
(NSCB) and subject to the assessment of the DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) [worker] 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) [DECS], COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION (CHED), TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY (TESDA), DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE),
NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY (NHA), DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG), DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY,
BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE (BIR), NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND


DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NEDA), CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (CSC),
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR WOMEN IN THE PHILIPPINES (NCWP), UNION OF
LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ULAP), [in coordination with] local
government units and non-government organizations with proven tract record in
providing services for solo parents.”

XXX

SECTION 3. Section 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 [one (1)
year] SIX (6) MONTHS.

SECTION 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 skill
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 [NEDA] 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
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
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.


c) 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 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 BUSINESS
EXPENSE SUBJECT TO PROPER RECORDING AND DOCUMENTATION.

SECTION 15. INTER-AGENCY COORDINATING AND MONITORING
COMMITTEE - A SPECIAL INTERAGENCY 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 EFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT SHALL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING:

a) DSWD Secretary as Chair;

b) DOH Secretary or any authorized representati
c) DepEd Secretary or any authorized represent
d) DOLE Secretary or any authorized representative;

e) DILG Secretary or any authorized representative;

f) DTI Secretary or any authorized representative;

g) Commissioner of BIR or any authorized representative;

h) Chair of CHED or any authorized representative;

i) Chair of the CSC or any authorized representative;

j) Chair of 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 (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 OR
OTHER OFFICER CHARGED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF ITS AFFAIRS
SHALL BE LIABLE THEREFOR.

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

UPON FILLING 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 PRIVELEGES 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 BY THE DSWD THAT A DEPARTMENT AGENCY, OR
INSTRUMENTALITY 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 OF 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 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.”

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 issuance, 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,