GMA seeks more benefits for solo parents

MANILA, Philippines - Former president and now Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is seeking additional benefits for solo parents.

Arroyo has filed House Bill 1520, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 by granting them additional rights and benefits and reducing to six months the one-year waiting period for a separated or abandoned spouse to be considered a solo parent.

“RA 8972 breathed life to the Constitution’s mandate that the ‘state will promote the family as the foundation of the nation, strengthen its solidarity and ensure its total development.’ Thus, to ensure that the law’s objectives are attained, the bill seeks to expand the coverage and benefits given to solo parents,” she said.

Under the measure, if a parent bears sole parenting after the other spouse has abandoned the family or is serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at least six months, he or she should be declared a solo parent.

Arroyo also included a provision which considers one as a solo parent if the other spouse has not been employed or has suffered from a disability for at least six months.

Among the proposed benefits for solo parents are flexible work schedule, 10 percent discount on children’s clothing materials and 15 percent discount on baby’s milk and food supplements purchased within two years from the birth of the child.

The solo parent is also entitled to a 15 percent discount on all purchases of medicine and other medical supplements or supplies used by the child five years old and below.

Businesses giving the discounts may consider the same as business expense subject to proper documentation and reporting.

To be entitled to these benefits, Arroyo said a solo parent must secure an identification card from the local chief executive where he or she resides upon submission of proper documents determined by the inter-agency coordinating and monitoring committee to be headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Violators will be fined P10,000 up to P200,000 and a prison term of six months to two years.

Those who will commit misrepresentation or falsification of documents to get the benefits under the law will be penalized with fine of not more P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months.