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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6175

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Economic and sociocultural realities experienced by solo parents should be addressed and
practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality should be abolished. The State shall
Provide the necessary mechanisms to enforce the rights of solo parents and adopt and
undertake alll legal measures necessary to promote equal opportunities and protect human
rights and dignity.

Republic Act No. 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act was enacted in 2000 to provide
benefits and comprehensive program for social welfare and development of solo parents
and their children. The law recognizes that solo parents are among the vulnerable and
marginalized members of society and need protection and support.

This measure aims to strengthen the rights of solo parents and to promote non-
discrimination against them. It further recognizes and addresses the inequalities
experienced by solo parents through additional financial benefits and institutional suet
that would help alleviate the challenges they experience in solely raising
children.

The immediate passage of this bill is most earnestly sought.


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

6175

HOUSE BILLNO.__

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MAGNA CARTA OF SOLO PARENTS, PROVIDING FUNDS.
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Magna Carta of Solo Parents”.

SEC. 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 ensure its total development.
Furthermore, the State promotes the right of children to assistance, including proper care
and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation,
and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

SEC. 3. Human Rights of Solo Parents - All human beings are free and equal in dignity and
tights as encompassed in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. No one,
therefore, should suffer discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender age, language,
‘sexual orientation, race, color, religion, political, or other opinion, national, social, or
geographical origin, disability, property, birth, or other status as established by human rights
standards.

To this end, the State shall promote rights of solo parents and protect them against
discrimination.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean as follows:

(a) “Solo Parent” - as defined under RA 8972, 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 at least one (1) year;

4) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to physical and/or
mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a 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, as long as 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 as long as he/

she is entrusted with the custody of the children;

Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to abandonment of

spouse for at least one (1) year;

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

9) Any other person who solely provides parental care and support to a child or
children;

10) Any family member who assumes the responsibility of head of family as a result of
the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of the parents or solo.
parent.

7)

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 responsibility of parenthood, shall terminate his/
her eligibility for these benefits.

(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
defectidisability.

(©) “Discrimination against solo parents” - refers to any distinction, exclusion, or restriction
which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or
exercise by solo parents, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political,
economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other field.

It includes any act or omission, including by law, policy, administrative measure, or practice,
that directly or indirectly excludes or restricts solo parents in the recognition and promotion
of their rights and their access to and enjoyment of opportunities, benefits, or privileges.

(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.

SEC. 5. Protection against discrimination of solo parents. - Discrimination against solo
parents, including but not limited to wages, conditions of work, and employment
opportunities, is prohibited.

Public and private entities and individuals found to have committed discrimination against
solo parents shall be subject to sanctions provided under Section 10 hereof.


SEC. 6. - Review of Programs for and Benefits Granted to Solo Parents. - This Act reiterates
the benefits granted to solo parents under Rep. Act No. 8972, including the Comprehensive
Package of Social Development and Welfare Services. The inter-agency committee, created
under RA 8972, headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, shall submit
to Congress a report on the plans, programs developed under the aforementioned law and
the status of its implementation within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this law. The
Interagency shall submit regular reports to Congress every three (3) years following the
initial submission of report.

SEC. 7. Parental leave - Section 8 of RA 8972 is, 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 WITH PAY every year shall be
granted to any solo parent employee who has rendered service of at least SIX (6)
MONTHS.”

SEC. 8. Additional Benefits for Solo Parents. - To promote the rights of solo parents, the
following benefits are further granted:

a) Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC) - Solo parents shall be entitled to a Solo Parent
Identification Card (SPIC) to be granted by the local chief executive, upon qualification
and submission of proper documents

b) Twenty percent (20%) discount on children's clothing materials for all purchases made
within two years from birth of the child of the solo parent

©) Twenty percent (20%) discount on milk, food, and food supplement for the child of the
solo parent for all purchases made within two (2) years from birth of the child of the solo
parent.

d) Twenty percent (20%) discount on all purchases of the solo parent of medicines,

vaccines, and other medical supplement for purchases made within a period of eighteen

(18) years from the child's birth

Ten percent (10%) discount from school tuition fees per child from Elementary School to

College.

To avail of these benefits, the solo parent shall present the Solo Parent Identification Card
and the birth certificate of the child or other evidence of age of the child.

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.

SEC. 9. Responsibilities of the Local Government Unit - The municipal and city social
welfare officer shall process the Solo Parent Identification Card not more than fifteen (15)
days after filing for application.

The local government shall allocate an amount from their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA)
for programs/ services benefiting solo parents and their children. These programs shall
include, but are not limited to, livelihood programs, job placement, scholarship programs,
and low-cost housing.


‘SEC. 10. Penalties. - Any person, corporation, entity, or agency who commits discrimination
against solo parents or refuses or fails to provide the benefits granted to the solo parents 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 violations - 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 (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.

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the General Appropriations
Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

The LGU shall allocate necessary funding from their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to
cover the programs and services for solo parents.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or section of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions and sections not affected thereby shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, or issuances,
or any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,