Republic of the Philippines EPKEOS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Zs wes
Quezon City qN
*RECEI VED =
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

pare, 22 SEP 2013
First Regular Session Se

House Bill No. 2658

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO SOLO PARENTS AMENDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “SOLO PARENTS WELFARE ACT OF 2000”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 8972, otherwise known as the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act, was

enacted to provide benefits and privileges to solo parents and their children. This was
in recognition of the efforts and sacrifices that solo parents must endure in raising and
tearing their children.

RA 8972 breathed life to the Constitution's mandate that “the State shall promote

the family as the foundation of the nation, strengthen its solidarity and ensure its total
development.” Thus, to ensure that the law's lofty objectives are attained, the present
bill seeks to expand the coverage and benefits given to solo parents. Also, in an effort
to strengthen the existing law, it proposes the reduction of the waiting period from one
(1) year to six (months) for which a person can be qualified as a solo parent.

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

DIOSDAD' HY \GAL ARROYO GLORIA! APAGAL ARROYO.
Second District, Camarines Sur Se€ond District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2658

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.

AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO SOLO PARENTS AMENDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 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 hereby amended to read
as follows:

"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. 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)] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (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.

SEC. 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 SOLO AND LONE
PARENTING RESPONSIBILITY;

XXX

(3) Parent [left solo or alone with the] WHO BEARS SOLE
AND LONE PARENTING responsibility [of parenthood]
while the spouse is detained or is serving sentence for a
criminal conviction for at least [one (1) year] SIX (6)
MONTHS;

XXX

(5) Parent [left solo or alone with the] WHO BEARS SOLE
AND LONE PARENTING responsibility [of parenthood]
due to legal separation or de facto separation from
spouse for at least [one (1) year] SIX (6) MONTHS, as
long as [he/she] THE SOLO PARENT is entrusted with
the custody of children;

XXX

(7) Parent [left solo or alone with the] WHO BEARS SOLO
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

(11) PARENT WHO BEARS SOLO AND LONE
PARENTING RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO DISABILITY
OR INCAPACITY OF THE OTHER SPOUSE TO BE
EMPLOYED FOR AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS;


XXX

e) “Flexible work schedule" — is the right granted to a solo parent
employee to vary [his/her] THE arrival and departure time IN THE
OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT without affecting the core work hours
as defined by the employer.”

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

“SEC. 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)] NATIONAL
STATISTICS COORDINATION BOARD (NCSB), [and] subject to the
assessment of the [DSWD worker] CITY OR MUNICIPAL SOCIAL
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER in the area WHERE THE
SOLO PARENTS 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.

SEC. 5. Comprehensive Package of Social Development and Welfare
Services. — A comprehensive package of social development and welfare
services for solo parents and their families [will] SHALL be developed by the
[DSWD] SECRETARY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, IN
COORDINATION WITH THE DOH, [DECS] DEPED, CHED, TESDA, DOLE,
NHA, [and] 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 OF THE PHILIPPINES (NCWP), UNION OF
LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ULAP), [in coordination with
and] local government units, and a non-governmental organization with proven
track record in providing services to solo parents

XXX"

SECTION 3. Sections 8, 9 and 10 of the same Act are hereby amended to read as
follows:

“SEC. 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.


SEC. 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 skills,
education; and

XXX

SEC. 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 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:

SEC. 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.

SEC. 14. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. - A SOLO PARENT SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

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

B) FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT ON BABY’S MILK,
FOOD AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS FOR ALL PURCHASES
MADE WITHIN TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE 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 SUPPLEMENTS 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 A_ BUSINESS EXPENSE SUBJECT TO PROPER
RECORDING AND DOCUMENTATION.

SEC. 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
CONSTITUTED WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS UPON THE EFFECTIVITY
OF THIS ACT, SHALL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING:

A) SECRETARY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT,
AS CHAIRPERSON;

B) SECRETARY OF HEALTH OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE;

C) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE;

D) SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

—) SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

F) SECRETARY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE;

G) COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE;

H) CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION;

|) CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE;
J) CHAIRPERSON OF PHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON WOMEN;

K) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY;


L) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY;

M) GENERAL MANAGER OF THE NATIONAL HOUSING
AUTHORITY;

N) CHAIRPERSON OF NATIONAL COMMISSION ON MUSLIM
FILIPINOS (NCMF);

©) NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
(NCIP); AND

P) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION OF LOCAL
AUTHORITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS MEMBERS.

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

SEC. 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 VIOLATIONS - A FINE OF 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,
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 PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

ANY PERSON WHO MISREPRESENTS STATUS OR FALSIFIES
ANY DOCUMENT TO AVAIL OF 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 (P10,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIFTY
THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) AND IMPRISONMENT OF NOT LESS
THAN SIX (6) MONTHS.

UPON FINDING OF 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 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
Sections 17 and 18 and amended to read as follows:

“SEC. [13] 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - [An interagency
committee headed by] WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS FROM 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 [is hereby established which shall formulate,
within ninety (90) days upon the effectivity of this Act, the implementing rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act in consultation with the
local government units, non-governmental organizations and people's
organizations.], ISSUE THE NECESSARY RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR
THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.

SEC. [14] 18. Appropiations. - The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be included in the budget of the concerned
government agencies in the ANNUAL General Appropriations Act (GAA).


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

Approved,