FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Solo parent refers to a parent who is left alone with the responsibility of 
parenthood due to death, detention, mental incapacity or legal separation with spouse. 
It also refers to women who became pregnant due to abuse. 
Republic Act No. 8972, otherwise known as the Solo Parent's Welfare Act, 
provides for the remuneration and privileges of a solo parent. Said law mandates the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to assists solo parents through 
social development and welfare services such as livelihood development services, 
counseling services, parent effectiveness services, critical incidence stress debriefing and 
other special projects for individuals in need of protection. 
Even with privileges, double hardship still saddles solo parents; they perform 
parental duties singlehandedly in the face of economic turmoil characterized by 
skyrocketing prices, poverty and massive unemployment. As such, there is a necessity 
to amend the existing law to address the financial concerns of solo parents amidst the 
economic difficulties that the country is experiencing. 
This bill aims to provide additional support and benefits to solo parents. Such 
1. Ten percent (10%) discount from all purchases of clothing and clothing 
materials for the child for two (2) years from child birth; 
2. Fifteen (15%) discount from all purchases of baby's milk, food and food 
supplements; 
3. Fifteen (15%) percent discount from all purchases of medicines and other 
medical supplements/ supplies for the child; and 
4. Basic personal exemption from individual income tax. 
benefits include: 
The enactment of this proposed measure will help lessen the financial burden 
carried by solo parents by affording them additional remuneration. Through this, we 
are assisting the solo parents to be able to provide a better future for their children. 
In view of the aforementioned, the passage of this bill is sought. 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOLO 
PARENTS’ WELFARE ACT OF 2000, BY PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL 
BENEFITS AND PENAL PROVISION FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 3 of the Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 3. Definition of Terms - Whenever used in this Act, the following 
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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; 
(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; 
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(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; 
(7) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due 
to abandonment of spouse for at least one (1) year; 
(8) Unmarried motherjfather 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. 
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. PROVIDED, THAT, 
A 
SINGLE PARENT WHO 
IS 
RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM THE CHILD’S OTHER PARENT 
SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS UNDER 
SECTION 12-A OF THE ACT. 
(b) ”Children” - refer to those living with and dependent upon the solo 
parent for support who are unmarried, unemployed and not more 
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than eighteen (18) years of age, or even over eighteen (18) years but are 
incapable of 
self-support because of 
mental and/or physical 
defect/disability. 
(c) ”Parental Responsibility” - with respect to their minor children shall 
refer to the rights and duties of the parents as defined in Article 220 of 
Executive Order No. 209, as amended otherwise known as the “Family 
Code of the Philippines.” 
(d) ”Parental leave” - shall mean leave benefits granted to a solo parent to 
enable him/her to perform parental duties and responsibilities where 
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physical presence is required. 
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read as follows: 
(e) ”Flexible work schedule” - is the right granted to a solo parent 
employee to vary hi’s/her arrival and departure time without affecting 
the core work hours as defined by the employer. 
SEC. 2. Section 8 of the Act is likewise 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 one (1) year.” 
SEC. 3. There shall be created Section and inserted Section 12-A of the Act to 
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”SECTION 12-A. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. - IN ADDITION TO THE 
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FOREGOING BENEFITS, SOLO PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN 
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QUALIFIED AS SUCH BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL 
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WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) SHALL LIKEWISE BE 
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ENTITLED TO THE FOLLWOING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: 
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(1) TEN PERCENT (10%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF 
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CLOTHING AND CLOTHING MATERIALS FOR THE CHILD 
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FOR PURCHASES MADE WITHIN A PERIOD OF UP TO TWO (2) 
YEARS FROM THE CHILD’S BIRTH; 
(2) FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES 
OF BABY’S MILK, FOOD AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS FOR 
PURCHASES MADE WITHIN A PERIOD OF TWO (2) YEARS 
FROM THE CHILD’S BIRTH; 
(3) FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES 
OF 
MEDICINES 
AND 
OTHER 
MEDICAL 
SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLIES 
FOR 
THE 
CHILD 
FOR 
THE 
PURCHASES MADE WITHIN A PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS 
FROM THE CHILD’S BIRTH; AND 
(4) BASIC PERSONAL EXEMPTION FROM INDIVIDUAL INCOME 
TAX IN THE AMOUNT OF FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 50, 
000.00) IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING EXEWMPTION THAT 
THE SINGLE PARENT MAY CLAIM FOR HIS/HER DEPENDENT 
CHILD OR CHILDREN. 
COMPANIES OR BUSINESSES FROM WHOM DISCOUNTED 
PURCHASES IN THE IMMEDIATELY FOREGOING SECTION ARE 
MADE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO CLAIM THE SAID DISCOUNTS AS 
PART OF TEHIR BUSINESS EXPENSE, PROVIDED THAT, TEHY 
MAINTAIN A DETAILED AND SEPARATE RECORDS OF THE SAID 
PURCHASES.” 
SEC. 4. There shall also be created and inserted Section 13-A to read as 
follows: 
”SECTION 13-A - ANY PERSON OR COMPANY WHO VIOLATES 
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT BY DENYING OR HINDERING A 
SOLO PARENT FROM AVAILING OF ANY OF THE BENEFITS OF 
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THIS ACT SHALL BE PENALIZED BY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN 
FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 50,000.00) FOR THE FIRST 
VIOLATION; ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 100,000.00) 
FOR 
THE 
SECOND 
VIOLATION; 
AND 
TWO 
HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (PHP 200,000.00) FOR THE THIRD VIOLATION. 
IN ADDITION, THE SAID BUSINESS MAY BE ORDERED CLOSED 
BY THE APPROPRIATE IMPLEMENTING AGENCY.” 
SEC. 5. WITHIN A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM 
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE CREATED 
BY THE ACT SHALL COME UP WITH RULES AND REGUALTIONS NECESSARY 
FOR THE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT.“ 
SEC. 6. Repealing CZause - all laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative 
orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC 7. Separability CZause - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 
and effect. 
SEC 8. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of 
general circulation. 
Approved, 
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