Go files bill seeking more benefits for solo parents

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go has filed a bill seeking to provide additional benefits and privileges to around 14 million single parents to help ease their burden of single-handedly raising their children.

Senate Bill 206, which aims to amend the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000, states that the benefits and privileges granted by the existing law are not sufficient to provide for the needs of solo  parents “who are both breadwinner and caregiver of the family.”

As part of his legislative agenda to help the Duterte administration achieve positive change felt by all Filipinos, Go filed the bill on July 2 together with other priority legislative measures.

Under the proposed bill, solo parents are entitled to a 10 percent discount on babies’ clothing up to two years old, 15 percent on milk up to two years old and 15 percent on medicine up to five years old.

Children of single parents can also avail themselves of 10 percent discount on tuition in public and private schools from grade one up to college, and 20 percent discount on school supplies until 21 years old.

Single parents must apply for a solo parent identification card from the local social welfare and development office in their area of residence.

The proposed bill provides that amnesty or lower real estate and inheritance taxes will be given to solo parents, and P50,000 will be added to their exemption from individual income tax.

Under the existing law, a solo parent employee who has rendered service of at least one year should be granted parental leave of not more than seven working days.

Go’s measure lowers the required length of service to six months and specifies that the leave should be granted with pay.

He expanded the definition of solo parent in his proposed bill.

Solo parent is defined under Section 3 as any individual who falls under any of the categories, including a woman who gives birth as a result of rape and other crimes against chastity even if the offender is not convicted, provided that the mother keeps and raises the child.

“Parent left alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to the death of spouse; spouse is detained or is serving time for a criminal conviction for at least one year; due to physical and/or mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a public medical practitioner; and due to legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for at least six months, provided he or she is entrusted with the custody of the children; due to declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage as decreed by a court or by a church, provided that he or she is entrusted with the custody of the children and due to abandonment of spouse for at least six months,” Go said.

A solo parent is also defined as an unmarried mother or father who has preferred to keep and rear his or her child; who has actual custody of the children instead of having others care for them or giving them up to a welfare institution.