A bill granting additional benefits including subsidies, discounts and value-added tax (VAT) exemptions for solo parents has lapsed into law without the signature of President Duterte.
By virtue of Republic Act No. 11861, the measure became a law last June 4, with the President not having enacted it.
The new law redefines “solo parents” to include spouses or any family member of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are in the low/semi-skilled category and are away from the Philippines for 12 months succeeding months or one year.
Elderly grandparents who are the sole guardians of minors can also have the same privileges as solo parents.
In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, any solo parent working in the government or private sector is entitled to a seven-day paid parental leave every year, which are forfeitable and not cumulative, according to the new law.
RA 11861 mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with other agencies, to develop a “comprehensive package” of social protection services for solo parents and their families including livelihood opportunities, legal advice and assistance, counseling services, parent effectiveness services, and stress debriefing, among others, regardless of financial status.
The DSWD, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) must also establish and maintain a “centralized database” of all solo parents who have been issued solo parent identification cards (SPIC) or booklets.
The law entitles a solo parent to a monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 per person who is earning a minimum wage and below, to be allocated by the concerned city or municipal government.
It also provides a solo parent who is earning less than P250,000 annually with a 10 percent discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) on baby’s milk, food, micronutrient supplements, and sanitary diapers purchased, duly prescribed medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplements purchased from the birth of the child or children until six years of age.
Solo parents will be granted a seven-day parental leave with pay regardless of employment status.
The measure also directs the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide scholarships or grants to qualified children of solo parents in institutions of basic, higher and technical/vocational education and training.
RA 11861 also gives solo parents, particularly solo mothers, priority in re-entering the workforce, and their children as applicable, in apprenticeships, livelihood training, reintegration programs for OFWs, and other poverty alleviation programs.