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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Expanded solo parent act rules, regulations formally signed; more benefits await solo parents

Expanded solo parent act rules, regulations formally signed; more benefits await solo parents

Published Sep 29, 2022 05:00 pm

The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act were formally signed on Thursday, Sept. 29.

This photo taken on February 24, 2022 shows a woman pushing a child in a pushchair along a street on the Bund in Shanghai. A 2019 report by a government-affiliated research institute estimated China had more than 19 million single mothers, including divorcees and widows. Hector RETAMAL / AFP

The IRR was signed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo and members of the Inter-agency coordination and monitoring committee.

The solo parents, through the IRR, will benefit from "comprehensive packages of social development and welfare services like counseling, legal assistance, medical care among others," said Tulfo at the signing ceremony held at Diamond Hotel, Manila.

DSWD is the lead social protection agency of the country and the chief crafter of the IRR.

Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB)

The Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act lapsed into law last June 4, 2022.

Its principal author was Senator Risa Hontiveros and co-authored by Senator Miguel Zubiri, Senator Bong Revilla, Senator Bong Go, Senator Imee Marcos, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and former Senator Richard Gordon.

This expands the scope of the Solo Parent's Welfare Act of 2000 by allowing solo parents to reap more benefits in more accessible ways.

More benefits await solo parents

Some of the most notable amendments of this act include the recognition of the following as qualified solo parents; legal guardian, adoptive or foster parent, grandparents, spouse or family member of an overseas Filipino worker under low or semi-skilled category who has been out of the Philippines for an unbroken period of 12 months, or any family member who bare sole responsibility of the child.

Solo parents under the low-income threshold will also receive P1,000 cash assistance monthly through their respective local government units.

Moreover, RA 11861 also provides solo parents additional work-related support like forfeitable and non-cumulative parental leave not exceeding seven days after six months of employment on top of the leave privileges the company offers and non-discriminatory employment conditions.

One child per solo parent will also be entitled to a full scholarship from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

According to a study by the Department of Health and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health in 2017, there were an estimated 14 to 15 million solo parents in the country.

Related Tags

Erwin Tulfo DSWD
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