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Republic of the Philippines NOEXS
Bouse of Representatives
Queson City, Metro Manila

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Sean

Eighteenth Congress

First Regular Session
3088
House BillNo.

Introduced by

HON. ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ and
HON. DAVID C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution mandates the State to further the welfare of the
Parents and their children as declared in Article II, Section 12, which Partly
Provides that ‘the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of
the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral Character shall receive
the support of the Government’,

Thus, pursuant to the aforementioned constitutional directive, Republic Act
No. 8972, also known as the ‘Solo Parent's Welfare Act’, was passed extending
benefits and privileges to solo Parents and their children. The law aims to develop

povtrement agencies and non-government organizations. The benefits include
livelihood development, counseling, parent effectiveness services, parental leave,
Scholarship programs for parents and children, non-formal education and medical
assistance.

However, the current Package of benefits and Privileges given to single
Parents under the law has become inadequate to cover the needs of the single


Parents and their families in the light of recent economic developments particularly
the rising inflation and stagnant wages.

Hence, in order to further enhance their purchasing power, there is a
necessity to amend the law and provide additional benefits to solo Parents to ease
their financial difficulties and assist them in fulfilling their duties of singlehandedly
Providing for their children and relatives dependent upon them for support.

Under this bill, solo parents are entitled to a fifteen percent (15%) discount
on medicines, vaccines and other medical supplements, supplies, accessories and
equipment for the child until he or she is five (5) years of age. In addition, they are
also given a ten percent (10%) discount on all purchases of a child's clothing
needs, as well fifteen percent (15%) discount on purchases of baby’s food and
supplements, both within two (2) years from the child’s birth. Moreover, solo
Parents shall be entitled to a twenty percent (20%) on all purchases of school
supplies for the child until the child reaches the age of 21 years old, and to a ten
Percent (10%) discount on tuition fees from both private and public schools from
grade school (in case of private schools) to college.

This measure also grants solo parents an additional P50,000 personal

exemption from the individual income tax on top of the existing exemption that
they can claim for their children.

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

REPRESENTATIVE
ALONA PARTYLIST



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Republic of the Philippines

Wouse of Representatives
Quejon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

me 3088

Hou:

Introduced by

HON. ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ and
HON. DAVID C. SUAREZ

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOLO
PARENTS WELFARE ACT OF 2000’, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be It enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8972 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

Section 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) 00%
XXXXX

(5) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due
to legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for at least


[ ene{4}-year ] SIX (6) MONTHS, provided he or she is
entrusted with the custody of the children;

XXXX

(9) Any other person who [selely-prevides-parentat care-and support to
a-child-or-chidren] BEARS SOLE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
OVER A CHILD OR CHILDREN, INCLUDING A FOSTER
PARENT DULY-RECOGNIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, A LEGAL GUARDIAN
APPOINTED BY THE COURT OR A LEGAL SINGLE ADOPTIVE
PARENT; and,

XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX

SECTION 2. A new section is hereby inserted as Section 4-A of Republic Act No.
8972 to read as follows:

SECTION 4-A.. SOLO PARENT IDENTIFICATION CARD (SPIC). - THE
LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (LSWDO)
SHALL ISSUE THE SOLO PARENT IDENTIFICATION CARD UPON THE
PRESENTATION OF THE APPLICANT OF THE FOLLOWING
DOCUMENTS:

(B) BARANGAY CERTIFICATION CERTIFYING THAT THE SOLO
PARENT IS A RESIDENT OF THE BARANGAY FOR THE LAST SIX
(6) MONTHS PRECEDING THE APPLICATION;

(C) BARANGAY CERTIFICATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT

QUALIFIES THE APPLICANT AS A SOLO PARENT AS REQUIRED
BY THIS ACT;

(D) CERTIFICATION FROM THE PROPER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AS.
PROOF OF BIRTH OF CHILD OR CHILDREN, DEATH OF PARENTS
OR SPOUSE AND OTHER DOCUMENTARY SUPPORT TO ATTEST
THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT QUALIFIES THE APPLICANT AS A
SOLO PARENT; AND,

(E) INCOME TAX RETURN OR ANY EQUIVALENT DOCUMENT THAT
ESTABLISHES THE INCOME OR FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE
SOLO PARENT APPLICANT.

THE SPIC SHALL BE ISSUED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM
APPLICATION THEREOF AND SHALL BE VALID FOR ONE (I) YEAR
UPON ISSUANCE SUBJECT TO RENEWAL.


SECTION 3. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8972 is 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 WITH PAY
every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee regardless of
employment status who has rendered service of at least Fone-{+}-year ] SIX
(6) MONTHS.

SECTION 4. A new section is hereby inserted as Section 12-A of Republic Act No.
8972 to read as follows:

SECTION 12-A. BENEFITS. - IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING
BENEFITS, SOLO PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED AS SUCH BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD)
SHALL LIKEWISE BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL
BENEFITS:

(1) TEN PERCENT (10%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF
CLOTHING AND CLOTHING MATERIALS FOR THE CHILD 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 MADE WITHIN A
PERIOD OF TWO (2) YEARS FROM THE CHILD’ BIRTH;

(3) FIFITEEN PERCENT (15%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF
MEDICINES AND OTHER MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTS OR SUPPLIES
FOR THE CHILD MADE WITHIN A PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS.
FROM THE CHILD'S BIRTH;

(4) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE CHILD FOR PURCHASES MADE FROM
THE CHILD'S BIRTH UNTIL TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS OF AGE;

(5) TAX AMNESTY AND OR REDUCTION OF REAL ESTATE OR
INHERITANCE TAXES OF SOLO PARENTS;

(6) BASIC PERSONAL EXEMPTION FROM INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX
IN THE AMOUNT OF FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50, 000.00) IN
ADDITION TO THE EXISTING EXEMPTION THAT THE SINGLE
PARENT MAY CLAIM FOR HIS OR HER DEPENDENT CHILD OR
CHILDREN; AND,


(7) TEN PERCENT (10%) TUITION FEE DISCOUNT FROM PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR THE CHILD OR CHILDREN FROM GRADE
SCHOOL (IN CASE OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS) TO COLLEGE.

COMPANIES OR BUSINESSES FROM WHOM DISCOUNTED PURCHASES
ARE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRECEDING SECTION SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO CLAIM THE SAID DISCOUNTS AS PART OF THEIR
BUSINESS EXPENSE, PROVIDED THAT THEY MAINTAIN DETAILED
AND SEPARATE RECORDS OF SAID PURCHASES.

SECTION 5. A new section is hereby inserted as Section 13-A of Republic Act No.
8972 to read as follows:

SECTION 13-A. PENALTIES - ANY PERSON, CORPORATION, ENTITY
OR AGENCY WHICH REFUSES OR FAILS TO PROVIDE THE BENEFITS
GRANTED TO SOLO PARENTS 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 STX (6) MONTHS BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE (I)
YEAR, OR BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.

(2) FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION - 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.

ANY PERSON WHO MISINTERPRETS THE 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 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.

IF THE OFFENDER IS A CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP OR
ORGANIZATION OR ANY SIMILAR ENTITY, EMPLOYEES AND
OFFICIALS THEREFORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED SHALL INDIVIDUALLY
BE HELD LIABLE THEREFORE.

IF THE VIOLATOR IS AN ALIEN OR A FOREIGNER, HE 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 THAT FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

UPON FINDING OF THE INTERAGENCY COMMITEE 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 CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION (CSC) OR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG) AGAINST THE HEAD OF THE
AGENCY OR THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE PERSON
DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLATION.

SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations of the Interagency Committee. -
renin 2 Period of not more than sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Interagency Committee created under Republic Act No, 8972 shall promulgate the
rules and regulations necessary for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause - all laws, decrees, executive orders,
administrative orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the Provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - 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.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least toc (2)
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.