Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act expected to take effect at the end of October

On Thursday, September 29, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act's Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were formally signed.

The Inter-agency coordination and monitoring committee members and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo signed the IRR.

At the signing ceremony conducted at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, Tulfo stated that the IRR will provide the single parents with "complete packages of social development and welfare services including counseling, legal support, medical treatment, among others."

On June 4, 2022, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act lapsed into law. Senator Risa Hontiveros served as the primary author while it was co-authored by Senator Miguel Zubiri, Senator Bong Revilla, Senator Bong Go, Senator Imee Marcos, former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, and former Senator Richard Gordon.

The expanded act broadens the scope of the Solo Parent's Welfare Act of 2000 by making it possible for solo parents to get more benefits.

In 2017, a research conducted by the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines and the Department of Health indicated that there were 14 to 15 million single parents in the philippines.

CATEGORIES OF SOLO PARENTS ACCORDING TO THE LAW

A solo parent refers to any individual who falls under any of the following categories:

A. A parent who provides sole parental care and support of the child or children due to:

• Birth as consequence of rape
• Death of the spouse
• Detention of the spouse for at least three (3) months or service of sentence for a criminal conviction or discrimination because of a physical or mental condition or disability
• Physical or mental incapacity of the spouse as certified by a public or private medical practitioner
• Legal separation or de facto separation for at least six (6) months
• Declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage
• Abandonment by the spouse for at least six (6) months

B. Spouse, any family member or the guardian of the child or children of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), provided that:

• The OFW belongs to the low/semi-skilled worker category and is away from the Philippines for an uninterrupted period of twelve (12) months
• Or if the OFW, his or her spouse, family member, or guardian of the child or children are unmarried mother or father, legal guardian, foster or adaptive parent

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR SOLO PARENTS ACCORDING TO THE LAW

1. 7 day parental leave for working solo parents and Work Discrimination Protection
2. P1,000 monthly cash subsidy for minimum wage earners or below through their local government units
3. Provision of scholarships to 1 deserving child (not more than 22y/o) of solo parent by the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
4. Until the child is six years old, those making ess than P250,000 will also be entitled to a 10 percent discount and a value-added tax exemption on baby supplies like milk, diapers, vaccinations, and medications.
5. In addition to their existing advantages, senior citizens and people with disabilities who are single parents are also eligible for the discounts.
6. Automatic PhilHealth coverage of the solo parent and their dependents

What are the necessary documentary requirements according to the law?

1. For solo parent with child or children as consequence of rape:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Complaint affidavit
• Medical record on the incident of rape
• Sworn affidavit declaring that the solo parent has sole parental care and support of the child or children

1. For solo parent on the account of the death of spouse:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Marriage Certificate
• Death Certificate of the spouse
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

3.For the solo parent on the account of detention or criminal conviction of the spouse

• Judicial decree of legal separation of the spouses or in the case of de facto separation
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For solo parent on the account of declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Marriage certificate
• Judicial decree of nullity or annulment of marriage or judicial recognition of foreign divorce
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For the solo parent on the account of abandonment by spouse:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Marriage certificate or affidavit of the applicant solo parent
• Affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons attesting to the abandonment of the spouse
• Police or barangay record of the fact of abandonment
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For the solo parent who is legal guardian, adoptive or foster parent:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Proof of guardianship, foster care or adoption
• Affidavit of a barangay official attesting that the solo parent is a resident of the barangay and that the child or children are under the parental care and support of the applicant solo parent
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For any relative within fourth (4th) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of the parent or legal guardian who assumes parental care and support of the child or children:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Death certificate of the parents or legal guardian or police or barangay record evidencing the fact of disappearance or absence of the parent or legal guardian for at least six (6) months
• Affidavit of a barangay official attesting that the children are under the parental care and support of the applicant
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For solo parent who is pregnant woman:

• Medical record of her pregnancy
• Affidavit of a barangay official attesting that the solo parent is a resident of the barangay and that the child or children are under the parental care and support of the applicant solo parent
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For the solo parent on account of physical or mental incapacity of the spouse:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Marriage certificate or affidavit of cohabitation
• Medical record or medical abstract evidencing the physical or mental state of the incapacitated spouse issued not more than three (3) months before the submission
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For the spouse or any family member of an OFW:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Marriage certificate of the applicant
• Overseas Employment of Certificate (OEC) or its equivalent document
• Copy of passport stamps showing continuous twelve (12) months of overseas work
• Employment contract
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For the unmarried father or mother who keeps and rears the child or chidlren:

• Birth Certificate/s of the child/children
• Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)
• Affidavit of a barangay official attesting that the solo parent is a resident of the barangay and that the child or children are under the parental care and support of the applicant solo parent
• Sworn affidavit that the solo parent is not cohabiting with a partner or co-parent and has the sole parental care of the child or children

1. For solo parent availing subsidy and discounts:

• Affidavit of Employment
• Income Tax Return (ITR)
• Any verifiable proof of income

To avail the benefits, a solo parent must first acquire a solo parent ID from their respective City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

Source: Manila Bulletin