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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
1st Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4242

Introduced by Hon. Francis Gerald Aguinaldo Abaya

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Ina study conducted in March 2007 by the Department of Health and the University of the
Philippines — National Institute of Health (UP-NIH), there were about fourteen (14) million solo
parents in the country. Inferring from the said study, the Federation of Solo Parents Luzvimin
(FSPL) made an estimate that the current number of solo parents is around 15 million, ninety-five
percent (95%) of which are women.

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 and assistance.
After nineteen (19) years from its enactment, it is necessary to amend the law considering the
plight of single parents who are in need of monetary benefits. Solo parents are also entitled to
discounts normally given to other marginalized sectors of our society like the senior citizens and
persons with disabilities (PWDs) because like them, solo parents experience economic and
financial difficulties. Further, there is also a need to include provisions that recognize male-headed
households in order for them to have the same benefits as female-headed households.

This bill aims to strengthen Republic Act No. 8972 by granting additional benefits to
qualified solo parents. Another significant proposal embodied in this bill is the reduction of the
waiting period from one (1) to six (6) months for which a person can be qualified as a solo parent.
Itis likewise the intent of this bill to ensure its effective implementation by imposing penalties to
those individuals or institutions who fail to enforce its provisions, particularly business
establishments who refuse to grant the proposed discounts. On the other hand, for those who
intend to abuse the grant of benefits, there is also a corresponding penalty provided in the
proposed bill.

For the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill s earnestly sought.
FRANCIS GERALD A\ \LDO ABAYA
Representative, First District Cavite


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4242

Introduced by Hon. Francis Gerald Aguinaldo Abaya

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 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 — Its the policy of the State to promote
the family as the foundation of the nation, strengthen its solidarity and to ensure
its local development. Toward 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 term mean as follows:

a.) “Solo Parent’ — 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 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 or 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 of 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 (DTI), 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

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Philippines (ULAP) and local government units and non-governmental

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2 organization with proven track record in providing services for solo parents.

3 XXX

4

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

7

8 Section 8. Parental Leave — In addition to leave privileges under
9 existing laws, parental leave of not more than seven (7) working days every
10 year shall be granted to any solo parent employee who has rendered service
ul of at least six (6) months.

12

13 Section 9. Educational Benefits — Solo parents shall be given
14 allocation in housing projects and shall be provided with liberal terms of
Bh payment on said government low-cost housing projects in accordance with
16 housing law provisions prioritizing applicants below the poverty line as declared
7 by the NSCB.

18

19 Section 10. Housing Benefits — Solo parents shall be given allocation
20 in housing projects and shall be provided with liberal terms of payment on said
21 government low-cost housing projects in accordance with housing law
22 provisions prioritizing applicants below the poverty line as declared by the
23 NSCB.
24
25 SECTION 4. New sections to be denominated as Section 13, 14, 25 and 16 are
26 hereby added to read as follows:
27
28 Section 13. Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC) - UPON
29 QUALIFICATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPER DOCUMENTS, AN
30 IDENTIFICATION CARD APPROVED BY THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE
31 WHERE THE SOLO PARENT BY THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL SOCIAL
32 WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.
33
34 Section 14. Additional Benefits - A SOLO PARENT SHALL BE
35 ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
36
37 a) TEN PERCENT (10%) DISCOUNT ON CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
38 MATERIALS FOR ALL PURCHASES MADE WITHIN TWO (2)
39 YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD OF THE SOLO
40 PARENT.
41 b) FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT ON BABY’S MILK, FOOD
42 AND FOOD SUPPLEMENT FOR ALL PURCHASES MADE WITHIN
43 TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD OF THE SOLO

44 PARENT.


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

Section 15. inter-agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee —
A SPECIAL INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO
AS THE COMMITTEEE, 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;

|.) 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,)A representative 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 (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 VIOLATION - 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 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
OFFICIAL 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 OFFENDED IS AN ALIEN, THE OFFENDER SHALL BE
DEPORTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVUCE 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
PROVISION OFTHIS 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

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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 amended as follows:

SECTION [13] 17. Implementation Rules and Regulations — Within
ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the DSWD shall, inconsultation
and coordination with the DOH, DepEd, DHED, TESDA, DOLE, NHA, and
DILG, DTI, BIR, NEDA, CSC, NCMF, NCIP, PCQ, 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 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. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,

executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to
or inconsistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, as amended by this Act
is hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — |f any provision of this Act shall be

declared unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to
be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,