If passed into law, the Expanded Solo Parents’ Welfare Act or Senate Bill No. 164 will grant solo parents seven additional days of parental leave annually, on top of leave privileges under existing laws.
“Raising a child is daunting, but raising a child alone constitutes a specific set of challenges and difficulties,” said Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, principal author of the measure and the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, on Monday said.
A solo mom herself, Hontiveros said that her bill recognizes the difficulties and challenges of being a solo parent. “Sheroes’ ang mga kapwa ko solo moms,” Hontiveros added, combining the words ‘she’ and ‘hero.’
“This is also like a father who is alone. Solo parents play multiple difficult roles,” she further said.
Aside from the paid parental leave of 7 days annually, Hontiveros’ bill will also entitle solo parents to 20% discount on goods and services in private establishments, costs of childcare, and on tuition fees per child.