Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSEBILLNO. 4467

Introduced by Representatives
Emerenciana De Jesus, Teodoro Casino, Neri Colmenares,
Rafael Mariano, Raymond Palatino, and Antonio Tinio

EXPLANATORY NOTE

WHEREAS, Republic Act No 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000, by providing
benefits for solo parents, recognizes that solo parents singly bear parental burden and, as
such, they have special needs that must be addressed by the state;

‘WHEREAS, the soto parents and their children have various needs that vary from
psychological and emotional to financial;

WHEREAS, while the Solo Parents Welfare Acts aims to address the general welfare of the solo
parents and their children, it failed to address the solo parents financial needs especially in
light of increasing prices under steady wages;

WHEREAS, there is a pressing need for the state to be more involved In aiding the solo parents
in the rearing of their children,

WHEREAS, most pressing is the need for the state to help enable the solo parents provide
their children affordable and quality food, clothing and medicines;

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, there is a need to amend the existing Solo Parents Welfare Act
in order to address this need by way of providing for additional benefits to the solo parents as
well as penalize those who violate the provisions of the Act.

ITIS IN THIS REGARD THAT the passage of this bill is most urgently sought for.

REP. finite A. DE JESUS . ANTO)

Gabriela Women’s Party ACT Teachers Partylist
chan
RER. TEDDY A. CASINO REF. RAFAEL MAI
Bayan Muna Partylist Anakpawis Partylist

REP. OND PALATINO
Kabat Partylist



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4187

Introduced by Representatives
Emerenciana De Jesus, Teodoro Casino, Neri Colmenares,
Rafael Mariano, Raymond Palatino, and Antonio Tinio

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOLO PARENTS’
WELFARE ACT OF 2000, BY PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL BENFFITS AND PENAL PROVISION
FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine 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 toa 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 head of family as a result of
the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of the parents or
solo parent.

Acchange 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 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.
O er 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 fights
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,”

(4) "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;

(c} "Flexible work schedule” - is the right granted to a solo parent employee to vary
his/her arrival and departure time without affecting the core work hours as defined by
the employer.

Section 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.

Section 3. There shal! be created an additional section and inserted as Section 12 of the Act to
read as follows:

“SECTION 12. 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
FOLLOWING 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 FIVE (5) YEARS FROM THE CHILD'S BIRTH;

(2) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF BABY’S MILK, FOOD
AND FOOD SUPPLEMENTS FOR PURCHASES MADE WITHIN A PERIOD OF THREE (3)
YEARS FROM THE CHILD'S BIRTH;

(3) TWENTY PERCENT (20%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF MEDICINES AND
OTHER MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLIES FOR THE CHILD FOR PURCHASES MADE
WITHIN A PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS FROM THE CHILD'S BIRTH; AND.

(4) TWELVE PERCENT (12%) DISCOUNT FROM ALL PURCHASES OF BASIC
COMMODITIES;


COMPANIES OR BUSINESSFS FROM WHOM DISCOUNTED PURCHASES IN THE IMMEDIATELY
FOREGOING SECTION ARE MADE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO CLAIM THE SAID DISCOUNTS AS
PART OF THEIR BUSINESS EXPENSE, PROVIDED THAT, THEY MAINTAIN DETAILED AND
SEPARATE RECORDS OF THE SALD PURCHASES.”

Section 4. There shall also be created and additional section and inserted as Section 13 to read
as follows:

"SECTION 13. ANY PERSON OR COMPANY WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT BY
DENYING OR HINDERING A SOLO PARENT FROM AVAILING OF ANY OF TIE BENEFITS OF
THIS ACT SHALL BE PENALIZED BY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS
(PHP50,000.00) FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION; ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS
(PHP100,000.00) FOR THE SECOND VIOLATION; AND TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS
(PHP200,000.00) FOR THE THIRD VIOLATION. IN ADDITION, THE SAID BUSINESS MAY BE
ORDERED CLOSED BY THE APPROPRIATE [IMPLEMENTING AGENCY.

Section 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.

Section 6. Repeating Clause. - Ail laws, decrees. Executive orders, administrative orders or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are tlereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

Section 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 .

Section 8. Effectivity Clause This Act shall take effect fifteen (1.5) days following its
Complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,