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

TWENTIETH (20%) CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Bill No. 240

Introduced by
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL

ANACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SOLO PARENTS
PROGRAM (FASPP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND
DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The State has the constitutional mandate to promote the family as the foundation of the
‘nation, and in support of this policy, Republic Act No. 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare
Act of 2000, which was further amended by Republic Act No. 11861 in 2022, otherwise
known as the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, was enacted to develop a
comprehensive program for social welfare and development of solo parents and their
children.

Studies made by the Department of Health and the University of the Philippines - National
Institute for Health which was funded by the World Health Organization indicate that at
least 14 to 15 percent of the estimated ninety-five (95) million Filipinos are solo parents,
as identified through the provisions of Expanded Solo Parent Act.*

The law recognizes that solo parents are among the vulnerable members of the society.
They solely bear parental burden and as such, they have special needs that span from
psychological, emotional, and financial, that must be addressed by the State. Hence, the
provisions for the benefits of qualified solo parents, as enshrined in RA 8972 and RA
11861.

While the aforesaid laws were comprehensive in their scope, the same were not all-
encompassing given the changing realities for solo parents. Many solo parents continue
to struggle with the rising cost of basic commodities, medical needs, and the challenges
of sustaining the daily needs of their families, especially in the face of economic
uncertainties and inflation.

* (Lu, 2023) Lu, B. (7 May 2023). Upholding solo parents’ welfare. Retrieved from Philippine News Agency.


Thus, it is imperative for the State to institutionalize a financial assistance program that
will directly support solo parents and their dependents, complementing existing benefits
under the Solo Parents Welfare Act and ensuring immediate relief for urgent family needs.

This House bill seeks to establish and institutionalize the Financial Assistance for Solo
Parents Program (FASPP) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) to provide cash, food, medical, educational, and livelihood assistance to qualified
solo parents and their dependents. Likewise, this is to ensure that the foregoing benefits
are rightfully afforded to the eligible solo parents, which will make life bearable for solo
parents in the ever-evolving Philippine society.

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

Rep. ROBERT NAZAL
Bagong Henerasyon Party-List


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

TWENTIETH (20) CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Bill No. 240

Introduced by
Rep. ROBERT NAZAL

ANACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SOLO PARENTS
PROGRAM (FASPP) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND
DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act shail be known as the “Financial Assistance for Solo Parents Program (FASPP)
Act.”

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

The State shall protect and promote the welfare of solo parents and their dependents by
providing adequate and timely financial, medical, educational, and livelihood assistance.
The State shall adopt measures to uplift the standard of living of solo parent families,
ensure access to basic services, and enable their full participation in economic and social
development.

SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS.

As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

A. _FASPP - refers to the Financial Assistance for Solo Parents Program implemented
by the DSWD providing various forms of assistance to qualified solo parents

B. Solo Parent - refers to an individual who qualifies as a solo parent under Republic
Act No. 11861 and its implementing rules and regulations


Beneficiary — refers to a solo parent whose monthly income does not exceed
Fourteen Thousand Pesos (PhP 14,000.00), and is qualified to receive assistance
under this Act, subject to assessment and submission of documentary requirements

Dependent - refers to a child or a dependent qualified under the Expanded Solo
Parents Welfare Act

Certificate of Eligibility (CE) - refers to a document issued by the DSWD certifying
that the solo parent is eligible to avail of assistance under the FASPP_

General Intake Sheet (GIS) - refers to the form used by DSWD social workers to
record relevant information on the solo parent and dependents

Social Case Study Report (SCSR) - refers to the document prepared by a
professional social worker describing the socio-economic condition, assessment,
and recommended interventions for the solo parent

Service Providers - refers to entities providing goods and services covered by the
FASPP, including but not limited to hospitals, clinics, educational institutions,
pharmacies, and other relevant providers

Guarantee Letter (GL) - refers to a document issued by the DSWD guaranteeing
payment to service providers on behalf of the solo parent

SECTION 4. COVERAGE AND MODALITIES IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE.

Financial and other assistance shall be provided through the DSWD and in partnership
with local government units (LGUs), subject to eligibility and availability of funds, as
follows:

Implementation through the DSWD - Qualified solo parents who need financial
assistance for good and services may avail of:

1. Food Assistance - this is an outright cash assistance provided to meet the need
for food and other nutritional requirements for sustenance of the solo parent's
children;

2. Medical Assistance - this is an outright cash or Guarantee Letter provided to
cover hospitalization expenses and professional fees, cost of medicines and
other medical treatment or procedures, such as common laboratory tests, and
diagnostic imaging for any illness or condition, including postpartum
complications, This assistance does not extend to other healthcare expenses
that are unrelated to medical treatment or aftercare;


3. Educational Assistance for dependents - refers to an outright cash assistance
or Guarantee Letter provided to cover school-related expenses of the solo
parent's dependent(s), such as tuition and miscellaneous fees, purchase of
school supplies, uniforms, books, payment of transportation expenses, and
other incidental costs necessary for the dependent's continued attendance and
completion of primary, secondary, or tertiary education, including technical-
vocational education or skills training programs, subject to assessment by the
DSWD social worker.

4. Livelihood Assistance - refers to an outright cash assistance or support package
granted to a qualified solo parent for the purpose of initiating, sustaining, or
expanding a small-scale livelihood project or income-generating activity. This
assistance may cover the procurement of necessary tools, raw materials,
training costs, or other inputs directly related to the livelihood undertaking, as
determined by the assessment and recommendation of the DSWD social
worker.

5. Cash Relief Assistance - this is an outright cash assistance provided to qualified
beneficiaries for reasons other than for food, medical or funeral expenses,
which upon the assessment of the DSWD social worker, may appear to be
directly related to the effects of high inflation (.e., difficulty in paying for house
rental, electricity and water expenses, etc.).

Cash assistance may be granted outright in amounts from Five Thousand Pesos
(PhP 5,000.00) up to Fifteen Thousand Pesos (PhP 15,000.00), subject to the
DSWD's assessment. For amounts exceeding Fifteen Thousand Pesos (PhP
15,000.00), the same shall be provided through a Guarantee Letter approved by the
Secretary of DSWS or his duly authorized representative.

The distribution of assistance is without prejudice to adoption of digital payment
solutions once the necessary infrastructure is in place.

Implementation through Local Government Units (LGUs)- The financial assistance
that will be provided to qualified beneficiaries through the LGUs shall be called rice
assistance. For this purpose, the DSWD shall enter into a Memorandum of
Agreement with the local government units to provide the details of the transfer of
funds and the requirements for its liquidation, in accordance with the existing
budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

The amount of rice assistance that can be provided to qualified beneficiaries shall
be equivalent to half of the cost of twenty-five (25) kilograms of rice based on the
suggested retail price from the Department of Agriculture (DA). The amount of each
transfer to the LGU shall not exceed Thirty Million Pesos (PhP 30,000,000.00)

The financial assistance under this Act may complement any support provided by
the LGU, government agencies, and non-government organizations. A beneficiary


who has received rice assistance through the LGU may sfill qualify to receive other
financial assistance from the DSWD subject to the requirements under this Act, and
professional assessment of the DSWD social worker.

SECTION 5. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS.

For purposes of assessment and evaluation, the solo parent shall submit the following
Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC);

Proof residency such as barangay certificate, utility bill or Voter's ID; and

©. Affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons attesting that the children/dependents are
under the parental care and support of the solo parent,

a.
b.

SECTION 6. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD, in
consultation with relevant agencies and stakeholders, shail formulate and promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 7. APPROPRIATIONS.

The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against
the current year’s appropriations of the DSWD. Thereafter, such sums as may be
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.

If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. REPEALING CLAUSE.

All laws, executive orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY.

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in the Official
Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.


Approved,