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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3513

Introduced by Representative Sol Aragones

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In today’s society, it is not uncommon to see solo parents raising their kids. Currently,
there are stand-alone solo parents in their families due to a variety of reasons, but usually due
to marital separation, death of a partner, and poverty.

More often than not, being a solo parent is much more difficult. These solo parents must
financially provide for their children on their own, attend to their needs alone, and teach them
how to become good persons without the help of a partner. In order to address these inequalities
and provide these solo parents the assistance needed to properly raise their children, our
lawmakers enacted a law to help them,

Republic Act No. 8972, otherwise known as the Solo Parent’s 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 rearing their children.

In order to ensure that the law’s lofty objectives are attained, this proposed measure
seeks to expand the coverage and benefits given to solo parents. As lawmakers, we must
continue to provide any assistance that the State can provide to these disadvantaged sectors of
society. In this manner, we are able to ensure that these solo parents raise and rear their children
in the best manner possible and create good and responsible citizens of the country.

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

te —

SOL ARA@ONES
38 District, Laguna


wat oye

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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3513

Introduced by Representative Sol Aragones

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 the 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:

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“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:


Seow uw au

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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 fone (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 fone (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 fone (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


(1)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

) “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


eae

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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.


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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
DEVELOPME! AS CHAIRPERSON;

B) SECRETARY OF HEALTH OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE;

(©) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE;

D) SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

E) SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMEN’
OR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

F) SECRETARY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

G) COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENU!

H) CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION;

1) CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON CIVIL
SERVICE;

J) CHAIRPERSON OF PHILIPPINE COMMISSION 0!
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 HOUS!
AUTHORITY;

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

O) 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;

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 iE (1) YEAR BUT NOT MORE THAN TWO (2)
YEARS, OR BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.

2)

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

7:


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‘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.|,


1 ISSUE THE NECESSARY RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.

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

6 “GOVERNMENT AGENCIES MAY UTILIZE A PORTION OF THEIR
7 RESPECTIVE BUDGET FOR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ON GENDER
8 AND DEVELOPMENT TO IMPLEMENT THIS ACT.

9 FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT
10 REFERS TO PROCESSES UNDERTAKEN BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
" TO ADDRESS GENDER ISSUES AND TRANSFORM THE SOCIAL,
R ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL STRUCTURES OF THE SOCIETY TO
1B ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPHASIZE THE FUNDAMENTAL,
4 ROLE OF WOMEN AS ACTIVE AGENTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND NOT
Is JUST PASSIVE RECIPIENTS OF ASSISTANCE.”

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

17 Sections 19, 20 and 21, respectively.

18 SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect (15) days after its complete publication in the

9 Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

20 Approved.