ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo has expressed concerns that the Solo Parent Law or Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11861 is not properly being implemented, much to the detriment of its supposed beneficiaries. 

“Ayon sa Expanded Solo Parent Act of 2022 dapat may monthly allowance na P1,000 ang mga indigent single parents at diskwento sa mga certain grocery items,” Tulfo said in a statement Thursday, Jan. 2.

(According to the Expanded Solo Parent Act of 2022, indigent single parents must be granted a monthly allowance of P1,000 as well as discounts on certain grocery items.)

“Kung hindi kulang, delayed, o wala talagang naibibigay na monthly allowance sa mga solo parents dahil ipinaubaya ito ng batas sa pamahalaang lungsod o bayan kung saan sila nakatira," said the senatorial aspirant.

(What happens is that these solo parents sometimes don't get the full benefits of the law since its implementation is left to the local government where these individuals reside in.)

“Karamihan sa mga LGU (local government units) ay hindi alam kung saan kukunin ang pondo para sa solo parents lalo na yung mga mahihirap ng munisipyo,” noted Tulfo.

(Most of the LGUs--especially the poorer ones--don't know where to get the funds for solo parents' benefits.)

According to the House deputy majority leader, solo parents are not even able to avail of the discounts for grocery items. On top of this, commercial establishments have their down complaints regarding the law.

“Reklamo naman ng mga tindahan malulugi na sila dahil madami ng discounts ang ibinibigay nila tulad ng sa senior citizen at PWDs (persons with disabilities) ngunit wala naman silang nakukuhang tulong sa pamahalaan," Tulfo said.

(Commercial establishments have complained about losing money because they don't get any support from the government despite the various discounts that they give to sectors like senior citizen and PWDs.)

Tulfo suggested revising the law in the Expanded Solo Parents wherein the funds to be given to the indigent solo parents would be sourced from the national government. 

“Bagamat maganda ang layunin, may butas ang batas na ito na kailangan ayusin agad para mapakinabangan ng mga solo parents,” the lawmaker added.

(Although it has a noble purpose, the law is flawed and this must be remedied at once for the sake of solo parents.)

Tulfo last year filed a proposed bill for the review of the Solo Parent Law.