HOUSE. OF REPRESENTATIVES,

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES RECEIVED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City pare: 04 JUL 2016
Time: _931
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS aol
First Regular Session

RECISTRATION UNIT

HOUSE BILL No. 878 BILLS ANJ INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Hon. Benhur B. Lopez Jr.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

In a study by the Department of Health, around 14-15% of Filipino
households are run by female-headed solo parents. Needless to state excluded in
this are male-headed households which is no longer uncommon these days.

When Republic Act No. 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act was enacted
in 2000, it sought to provide non-monetary benefits to solo parents, in the form
of leaves, assistance and so forth. However, it is submitted that solo parents are
likewise entitled to discounts normally given to other marginalized sectors of our
society like the seniors and those with disabilities as solo parents also experience
economic difficulties, being obviously single parents as they are.

The bills thus aims to strengthen Republic Act No. 8972 by granting
additional benefits to qualified solo parents and reducing the waiting period from
one (1) year to six (6) months for which a person can be qualified as a solo parent.
It is likewise the intent of this bill to ensure its effective implementation by
imposing penalties to those individuals or institution who fail to enforce its
provisions as it was seen in the past that certain specific groups entitled to
discounts provided by our statutes have in fact complained that they are not
being given such discounts for reasons known and acceptable only to business
establishments. As for those who intend to abuse the grant of benefits, there is
likewise a penalty provided in the proposed bill.

It is thus hoped that this bill be approved.

BE B./LOPEZ JR.
Represeritative


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

9
HOUSE BILL No. 878

Introduced by Hon. Benhur B. Lopez Jr.

AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO SOLO PARENTS
AMENDING FOR THE 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. Section 2 and 3 of Republic Act No. 8972 are hereby amended to
read 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 local development. Towards its 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),
Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the 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 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 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 is serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at
least six (6) months;


XXX

(5) Parent who bears sole and lone parenting responsibility due to
legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for at least six (6)
months, as long as the solo parent is entrusted with the custody of the
children;

XXX

(7) Parent who bears sole and lone parenting responsibility of
parenthood due to abandonment of spouse for at least six (6) months;

XXX

(9) Any legal guardian, adoptive or foster parent who solely provides
parental care and support to a child of children;

XXX

e.) “Flexible work schedule” — is the right granted to a solo parent
employee to vary his or 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 Statistic
Coordination Board (NSCB) and subject to the assessment of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) local social welfare officer in the area
where the 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), 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
(DTD, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA), Civil Service Commission (CSC), National Council of Women
in the Philippines (NCWP), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)
and local governments units and non-governmental organization with proven
track record in providing services for solo parents.

XXX

SECTION 3. Sections 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
six (6) months.

SECTION 9. Educational Benefits - The 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

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 NSCB.”

SECTION 4. New sections to be denominated as Section 13, 14, 25 and 16 are
hereby added to read as follows:

“SECTION 13. SOLO PARENT IDENTIFICATION CARD (SPIC) — UPON
QUALIFICATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPER DOCUMENTS, AN
IDENTIFICATION CARD APPROVED BY THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE
WHERE THE 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 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 SUPPLEMENT FOR ALL PURCHASES MADE WITHIN
TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD OF THE SOLO
PARENT.

¢.) FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT ON ALL PURCHASES OF
THE SOLO PARENT OF MEDICINES AND OTHER MEDICAL
SUPPLEMENT OF 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.


SECTION 15. INTER-AGENCY COORDINATING AND
MONITORING COMMITTEE — A_ SPECIAL INTER-AGENCY
COMMITTEE, HEREINAFTER REFFERRED 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 THE
EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT SHALL BE COMPOSED OF THE
FOLLOWING:

A.) | DSWD Secretary as Chair;

B.) DOH Secretary or any authorized representative;

C.) DepEd Secretary or any authorized representative;

D.) DOLE Secretary or any authorized representative;

E.) _ DILG Secretary or any authorized representative;

F.) DTI Secretary or any authorized representative;

G.) Commissioner of the BIR or any authorized representative;

H.) Chair of the CHED or any authorized representative;

1.) Chair of the CSC or any authorized representative;

J.) Chair of the NCWP or any authorized representative;

K.) Director General of the NEDA or any authorized
representative;

L.) General Manager of the NHA or any authorized
representative;

M.) Arepresentative 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 (10,000.00) BUT
NOT MORE THAN _ FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS
(50,000.00) 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 PESOS (200,000.00) 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, MANAGING PARTNER OR OTHER OFFICER CHARGED WITH
THE MANAGEMENT OF ITS AFFAIRS SHALL BE LIABLE THEREOF,

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 PRIVELEGES
GRANTED TO ANY BUSINESS ENTITY THAT FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE
PRIVISION OF THIS ACT.

ANY PERSON WHO MISREPRESENTS STATUS OR FALSIFIES ANY
DOCUMENT TO AVAIL OF THE 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 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 OR THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE PERSON DIRECTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLATION.”

SECTION 5. Section 13 and 14 of the same Act are hereby renumbered as Section
17 and 18 and amended as follows:

“SECTION [13] 17. Implementation Rules and Regulations — Within ninety
(90) days from the approval of this Act, the DSWD shall, in consultation and
coordination with the DOH, DepEd, DHED, 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 to carry out the
provision 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
gender and development programs and activities 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
structures of society to achieve gender quality 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, executive orders or issuance, or any part of thereof which
are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 8. If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, the
other provision 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.