THE expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act will benefit an estimated 15 million Filipinos, Ang Probinsyano party-list Rep. Alfred Delos Santos yesterday said as he lauded the enactment of Republic Act No. 11861 on June 4.
The House of Representatives transmitted its version of the measure to the Senate on January 20, 2021 while the Senate approved its version on December 13 last year.
“Natutuwa po ako na naisabatas na ang Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act. Matagal din naming trinabaho ito sa kongreso. Malapit po ang batas na ito sa aking puso dahil ako po ay maagang naulila sa ama. Ang aking ina ay isang solo parent na itinaguyod kaming limang magkakapatid. Kaya ramdam ko po ang hirap ng isang magulang na mag-isang kumakayod at kumakalinga sa kanyang pamilya (I am elated that after going through a lot of hearings in Congress, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act is finally a law. This is close to my heart because I lost my father early on. My mother singularly took care of her five children. I have experienced and felt the hardships of a solo parent taking on the cudgels and responsibilities for her family),” Delos Santos said.
“Ang batas na ito ay alay namin sa milyun-milyong solo parents nating kababayan. Nasa inyo po ang aking malalim na respeto … Mabuhay po kayo! (This law is dedicated to millions of Filipino solo parents. My deepest respect and hats off to you!),” said Delos Santos, who was one of the co-authors of the measure at the House of Representatives.
A study conducted by the University of the Philippines Manila and funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that 14 to 15 million Filipinos are considered as solo parents.
Under the new law, lawmakers expanded the definition of solo parents to also include a parent who provides sole parental care due to birth as a consequence of rape, death of the spouse, detention of the spouse, physical or mental incapacity, legal or de facto separation, annulment, abandonment by spouse, family members of Overseas Filipino Workers who are in the low or semi-skilled category and who have been away from the Philippines for an unbroken period of 1 year.
The law has also included grandparents, family members and even non-relatives who bear the sole responsibility of taking care of a child as solo parents.
RA 11861 likewise entitles solo parents to the following benefits: a monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 from the government for those who are minimum wage earners, a Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC) or booklet that would give them a 10 percent discount on baby’s milk, diapers, medicines and even school supplies for children up to six years old, additional seven days leave with pay on top of other employment leave benefits, automatic PhilHealth coverage, priority in housing benefits; DepEd, CHED and TESDA scholarships or grants for the children, and apprenticeship programs at TESDA for qualified single parents.
An important provision in the new law likewise grants rights and benefits to a solo parent until the child is 22 years old.
To be able to avail of the benefits of the expanded Solo Parents Act, the solo parent must secure a SPIC from the Solo Parents Office (city/province) or Solo Parents Division (municipality). The applicant must fill out a Solo Parent ID application form to get a SPIC ID/ booklet and attach all the necessary requirement in their application such as proof of residence in the barangay for at least six months, proof of financial status and supporting documents that you are a solo parent (death certificate, OFW certificate, birth certificate of children, etc). The SPIC ID/booklet shall be renewed annually.
