SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo yesterday said the distribution of the P1,000 subsidy for solo parents may start by December this year as he ordered the creation of a technical working group that would study and craft the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) for the expanded Solo Parent Act (Republic Act 118671).
“Target po namin na matanggap na ang mga benepisyong ito ng ating mga solo parent ngayong Disyembre o mas maaga pa (Our target is for the beneficiaries of the solo parent to receive the assistance by December or earlier),” Tulfo said.
He said the benefits include a P1,000 subsidy to be distributed by local government units, priority in available employment, automatic membership to PhilHealth, 20 percent discount in hospital billing, 10 percent discount in tuition and other school fees, and 15 percent discount on school supplies.
The food and supplies such as diapers that are needed by kids shall be exempted from value added tax.
Tulfo said solo parents who are minimum wage earners and have school-age children shall also be a candidate for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps). He said they may also apply for the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SSLP).
The expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act lapsed into law last June 4.
Apart from the monthly subsidy for minimum wage earners who are solo parents and the discounts and VAT exemptions, the law also reduced the period for the declaration of a single parent due to abandonment to six months from one year.
