THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday said the Solo Parents Act will become effective late in October following the approval and signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new law.
Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Malasakit at Bayanihan party-list Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. led the signing of the IRR, which paves the way for the provision of a monthly P1,000 cash subsidy to a solo parent who is earning minimum wage and below.
The law also provides for a 10 percent discount and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on milk, diapers, and other medicines for children; and grants solo parents seven days of non-cumulative parental leave with pay, regardless of their employment status, provided that they have been employed for six months.
It also expands the definition of a solo parent to cover legal guardian and relatives who are caring for the child, such as the grandparents, aunts or uncles.
Solo parents also refer to a spouse or any family member of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who “belongs to the low or semi-skilled worker category and is away from the Philippines for an uninterrupted period of 12 months” and who cares for the child or children. The children must be 21 years old and below.
The Solo Parents Welfare Act or Republic Act 118671 lapsed into law last June 4.
As this developed, the DSWD partnered with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as it enlisted beneficiaries of financial aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) with the agency’s Philippine Identification System (PhilSys-ID).
The DSWD held the registration at its central office in Quezon City from September 19 to 23. There is no update yet if the registration will be expanded to the field offices and when.
