House bill amending single parents law nears passage

MANILA, Philippines – A House of Representatives’ panel has endorsed for plenary debate a bill providing additional benefits to single parents.

Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, chair of the House committee on revision of laws, asked colleagues to act with urgency on the bill, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000.

“This is another social legislation that expands institutional benefits for children and their solo parents,” said Manila Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David, one of the authors of the bill.

The bill suggests that any qualified single parent has to secure a solo parent identification card (SPID) upon submission of pertinent requirements to the city/municipal social welfare and development officer (C/MSWDO) to be able to avail of the law’s benefits.

Holders of SPID shall be entitled to 10 percent (10%) discount from all purchases of clothing materials for the child, for purchases made within a period of up to two years from the child’s birth; and 15% discount from all purchases of baby’s milk, food and food supplements for purchases made within a period of two years from the child’s birth.

The SPID holders will also be entitled to a 15% discount from all purchases of medicines and other medical supplements/supplies for the child for the purchases made within a period of five years from the child’s birth.

Companies or businesses from which discounted purchases in the immediately foregoing section (Section 14) are made will be entitled to claim the said discounts as part of their business expense, provided that they maintain detailed and separate records of the said purchases.

In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, parental leave of not more than seven working days with pay every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee under contract of service in the private sector or in government whether holding a career or non-career position who has rendered service of at least six months, the bill provides.

Under the bill, solo parents will be given allocations in housing projects and shall be provided with liberal terms of payment on said government low-cost housing projects in accordance with housing law provisions prioritizing applicants below the poverty line as declared by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

The bill also provides for a comprehensive package of social development and welfare services for solo parents and their families to be developed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, National Housing Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Economic Development Authority, Council for the Welfare of Children, CWSC, Philippine Commission on Women, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, PhilHealth, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and non-government organization in coordination with local government units and a non-government organization with proven track record in providing services for solo parents.

It also provides for a Special Review Committee (SRC) on Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000, an inter-agency which acts as consultative body and whose main function is to monitor the compliance of national government agencies and to evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of the provisions of the Act to the current situation of the solo parents.

Any person who will fail to provide the benefits under this proposed Act shall face, among others, a fine of not less than P10,000 but not exceeding P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than one year, or both at the discretion of the court.

Penalties for subsequent violations consist of a fine of not less than P100,000 but not exceeding P200,000 or imprisonment for not less than one year but not more than two years, or both at the discretion of the court.

Any person who will be caught abusing the privileges granted will be punished with imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine of not less than P5,000, but not more than P50,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.

If the violator is a corporation, organization or any similar entity, the officials and employees directly involved shall be individually liable under the Act.

On the other hand, if the violator is an alien or a foreigner, he shall be deported immediately after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings.