FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
.s First Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No._ 3058

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4% District, City of Manila

. 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 benefits include:
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.
‘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 foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

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MA. THERESA BONOAN-DAVID
Ath District, City of Manila


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No.__ 3053

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4*% District, City of Manila

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 the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

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
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;

(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 mother/father 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 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.”

(@) "Parental leave” - shall mean leave benefits granted to a solo parent to
enable him/her to perform parental duties and responsibilities where
physical presence is required.

(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
read as follows:

“SECTION 12-A. ADDITIONAL 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
FOLLWOING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

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

@

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;

@

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

@

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, THEY 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 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 regulations necessary for the proper implementation of the amendments to
the act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause - 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 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.

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.