Flying Solo: Additional Benefits for Solo Parents

Author: Atty. Angeli Alyssa S. Andan

OBLIGATION OF PARENTS

Support as defined under Article 290 of the Civil Code means everything that is indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing and medical attendance, according to the social position of the family. Support also includes the education of the person entitled to be supported until he completes his education or training for some profession, trade or vocation, even beyond the age of majority. 

With the rising prices of goods and services in the Philippines, it is difficult to provide support to the family. According to Article 70 of the Family Code, the spouses are jointly responsible for the support of the family. This means that for solo parents, this obligation is more challenging.

How can solo parents work especially when no one can look after their children? Who can help them in sustaining the needs of their children? How do they cope with the challenges that they face in life, aside from being solo parents? How can they balance their work and their lives?

SOLO PARENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

In a recent research conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health, there are 15 million solo parents in the Philippines. Out of the 15 million, 95 percent are women. With this, one can ask how can we ensure that the children are adequately provided with the support that they need. Thus, the Philippine Government sought ways to provide local assistance, and to expand the benefits of solo parents. One of which is Republic Act 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.

CATEGORIES OF SOLO PARENTS

To be considered a solo parent in the Philippines, Section 4 of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act lists the following:

1. A parent who provides sole parental care and support of the child or children due to the instances provided by law;
2. Spouse or any family member of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), or the guardian of the child or children of an OFW
3. Unmarried mother or father who keeps and rears the child or children;
4. Any legal guardian, adoptive or foster parent who solely provides parental care and support to a child or children;
5. Any relative within fourth (4th) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of the parent or legal guardian who assumes parental care and support of the child or children as a result of the death, abandonment, disappearance or absence of the parents or solo parent for at least six (6) months; or
6. A pregnant woman who provides sole parental care and support to the unborn child or children.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF SOLO PARENTS

As such, Republic Act 11861 provides the following benefits to solo parents:

1. Comprehensive package of social protection services for solo parents and their families (Section 5)
2. Option to enter into agreements for a telecommuting program (Section 6)
3. A forfeitable and noncumulative parental leave of not more than seven (7) working days with pay every year provided:
   1. That the solo parent employee has rendered service of at least six (6) months
   2. That the parental leave benefit may be availed of by the solo parent employees in the government and the private sector (Section 7)
4. Scholarship programs for solo parents and a full scholarship for one (1) child of a solo parent in institutions of basic, higher and technical vocational skills education provided:
   1. That the said solo parent or child of a solo parent has all the qualifications set for the scholarship program of the DepEd, CHED, or TESDA
   2. That the other children, if any, of a solo parent shall be given priority in the education programs under Republic Act No. 10687 (Section 8)
5. Non-formal education programs appropriate for solo parents and their children (Section 8)
6. Establishment of appropriate child minding centers within the workplace, or in accessible locations to the workplace or residence of the solo parent (Section 9)
7. Social safety assistance during disasters, calamities, pandemics, and other public health crises as may be declared by the DOH (Section 11)
8. Means-, pension-, and subsidy-tested monthly cash subsidy of P1,000.00 per month per solo parent who is earning a minimum wage and below provided:
   1. For fifth (5th) class municipalities and lower, as well as the five hundred (500) municipalities with the highest poverty incidence based on the latest municipal-level small area poverty estimates, cash subsidy allocations may be taken from the Gender and Development (GAD) budget and the amount of cash subsidy per recipient may be dependent on the amount of the GAD budget
   2. Solo parent is not a recipient of any other cash assistance or subsidy from any other government programs (Section 12)
9. A 10% discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) on baby’s milk, food and micronutrient supplements, and sanitary diapers purchased, duly prescribed medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplements purchased from the birth of the child or children until six (6) years of age of a solo parent who is earning less than P250,000.00 annually subject to limitations provided by law (Section 12)
10. Automatic coverage under the National health Insurance Program (NHIP) being administered by the PhilHealth with premium contributions to be paid by the National Government (Section 12)
11. Prioritization of solo parents in apprenticeships, scholarships, livelihood training, reintegration programs for OFWs, employment information and matching services, and other poverty alleviation programs of the TESDA, DTI, CHED, DepEd, DOLE, DMW and other related government agencies, subject to the standard eligibility and qualifications (Section 12)
12. Prioritization and allocation in housing projects with liberal terms of payment on government low-cost housing projects in accordance with housing law provisions prioritizing applicants below poverty line as declared by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

To avail the benefits #8-12, a Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC) must be presented by the solo parent. To avail the benefit #9, the solo parent booklet shall also be presented.

CONCLUSION

The solo parents are considered modern day unsung heroes. With the demands of their children and their work, being a solo parent is undoubtedly the most difficult “job” one can have. The additional benefits of solo parents, at the very least, can ease that challenging work. 

Understand more of your benefits as a solo parent with Bais Andan Law Offices! Reach out to us today via email at info@baisandanlaw.com or by phone at +63 915 968 2503 or (045) 281 0164.