MALACANANG yesterday said 25 measures, among them a bill providing additional benefits to solo parents, have lapsed into law after President Duterte took no action on them.
Under the law, a bill will lapse into law if the President fails to act on it within 30 days after receiving the bill and will take effect 15 days after being published in a major publication.
Among the measures was RA 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, which aims to provide additional benefits to solo parents, which lapsed into law last June 4.
Under the law, a P1,000 monthly cash subsidy will be given to solo parents who are earning minimum wage, a 10 percent discount will be given on certain medicines for low-income solo parents with children aged six years and below, they will be given priority in low-cost housing, and PhilHealth coverage.
Solo parents will also be given livelihood trainings, reintegration programs for Overseas Filipino Workers, employment information, and other pro-poor initiatives that they will receive until their children turn 22 years old.
The other measures which lapsed into law were RA 11812 which renamed the Municipality of Rodriguez in Rizal to Municipality of Montalban on June 3; RA 11803 which divided Barangay Pasok Putik in Quezon City to three distinct and separate barangays to be known as Barangay Pasong Putik Proper, Barangay Greater Lagro, and Barangay North Fairview on June 2; several bills establishing Polytechnic University of the Philippines campuses in various parts of the country; a number of measures creating maritime marine hatcheries in some parts of the country; RA 11860 which establishes the University of Eastern Philippines campus in Northern Samar; and RA 11782 which establishes a Philippine Merchant Marine Academy campus in Cagayan de Oro City, among others.
Despite the President’s inaction on some measures, Duterte has signed into law RA 11862 which amended the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and strengthened its policies to cope with the times.
