Voting 22-0, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the bill that seeks to expands the social protection, benefits and programs for solo parents.

The salient features of the proposed Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act or Senate Bill No. 1411 includes a monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 per indigent solo parent, automatic PhilHealth coverage, and apprenticeship programs in TESDA for eligible solo parents and their children.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, herself a solo parent, lauded the bill's approval in the Upper Chamber. The House of Representatives approved the counterpart version of the bill earlier this year.

“Bilang solo parent, hindi matatawaran ang saya ko. Siyempre, tagumpay rin ito ng kapwa ko solo parents na walang humpay ang pagpursigeng mapabuti ang kalagayan ng aming mga anak (As a solo parent, I am so happy. Of course, this is a victory for my fellow solo parents who does everything to pursue the best for their children)," Hontiveros said.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Women and Children also said the bill's passage into law would be a huge help to solo parents who have a hard time coping up during this time of a COVID-19 pandemic.

“Habang may pandemya, mas lalong mahalagang mapabilis pa ang pagsabatas nito (While there is a pandemic, it's very important that we expedite its passage into law)," she said.

"Naging mahirap ang pagtulak sa (Itwas difficult to push for the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, pero saksi ako sa tiyaga ng mga solo parents sa pagkampanya para sa pagpasa nito, kaya’t lubos ang aking pasasalamat dahil hindi kami bumitaw sa laban (but I witnessed the perseverance of solo parents to lobby for its passage, that's why I'm very happy they didn't give up fighting for it),” Hontiveros said.

The bill also expands the definition of “solo parent” to include the wife or husband of a low or semi-skilled overseas Filipino worker (OFW), such as construction and factory workers and domestic workers, who has continuously worked abroad for 12 months or more.

Also under the measure, foster parents recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as legal guardians acknowledged by the court, and relatives who have the sole responsibility for caring for a child are also qualified as solo parents.

“Kinikilala natin na maraming klase ng ‘solo parent.’ Kinikilala rin natin na mas mahaba ang responsibilidad ng mga solo parents ngayon, lalo na sa usapin ng edukasyon dahil sa kasalukuyang K-12 system (We recognize that there are many kinds of solo parent. We, therefore, recognize the fact that solo parents have more responsibilities these days, especially on the issue of educatiom because we have the K-12 system)," she pointed out.

"Kaya naman imbes na 18 years old lang, pwede pa ring makatanggap ng benepisyo ang solo parent hanggang tumuntong ang aming dependent ng 22 years old (That's why, instead of until 18 years old, we extended the benefits of solo parents until the dependent reaches 22 yeas old)," she said.

Hontiveros thanked her colleagues who helped fine-tune the bill, supported and campaigned for the measure.

“Ang pagpasa ng Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act ay pagpapatunay na ang solo parents ay may mga kakampi sa gubyerno (Passage of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act into law would show that solo parents are supported by the government)," she said.