What is the Solo Parents Welfare Act?

 RA 8972 provides for benefits and privileges to solo parents and their children.
 It aims to develop a comprehensive package of social development and welfare
services for solo parents and their children
 To be carried out by the DSWD as lead agency and other government agencies
 Date Signed into Law: November 7, 2000
 Date of Effectivity: November 28, 2000
 IRR Date Approved: April 2002

Who are Solo Parents?

1. A woman who gives birth, keeps the child and raises the child
 As a result of rape
 As a result of other crimes against chastity
2. Parents left solo with the responsibility of parenthood due to:
 Death of spouse
 Spouse is detained or serving sentence (for at least 1 year)
 Physical or mental incapacity of spouse (as certified by medical
practitioner)
 Legal separation or de facto separation from spouse (for at least 1 year) as
long as entrusted with custody
 Declaration of nullity or annulment (decreed by court of church) as long as
entrusted with custody
3. Unmarried parent who preferred to keep and raise child
4. Any other person who solely provides parental care and support
5. Any family member who assumes responsibility as head of family as a result of
the parents’
 Death
 Abandonment
 Disappearance
 Prolonged absence

Agrarian Reform and Social Legislation

Atty. Ismael Jose Chan-Gonzaga, SJ
A.Y. 2019-2020
Who are children?

 living with and dependent upon the solo parent for support who are:
a) Not more than 18 years of age
 unmarried
 unemployed and
b) Over 18 years of age
 but are incapable of self-support because of mental and/or physical
defect/disability

What is the Comprehensive Package of Services for Solo Parents?

A comprehensive package of social development and welfare services for solo parents
including:

1. Livelihood development services trainings

2. Counseling services
3. Parent effectiveness services
4. Critical incidence stress debriefing
5. Special projects for individuals in need of protection

What are the benefits enjoyed by qualified solo parents?

A. Employment benefits (DOLE, Employer)

1) Flexible work schedule

 Employee’s right to vary his/her arrival and departure time
without affecting the core work hours
 General rule: employer shall provide flexible working schedule
 Exception: not affect individual and company productivity
 Note: any employer may request exemption from

Agrarian Reform and Social Legislation

Atty. Ismael Jose Chan-Gonzaga, SJ
A.Y. 2019-2020
 2) No work discrimination
 General Rule: No employer shall discriminate against any solo
parent on account of his/her status

3) Parental leave
 leave benefits granted to a solo parent to enable him/her to
perform parental duties and responsibilities where physical
presence
 In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, parental leave
shall be granted has rendered provided
 Employee has service of at least 1 year
 Must not be more than 7 working days every year

B. Educational benefits (CHED, TESDA)

1) Scholarship programs for qualified solo parents and their children

2) Non-formal education programs

C. Support

1) Medical assistance (DOH)

 comprehensive health care program
2) Housing benefits (NHA)
 given allocation in housing projects
 provided with liberal terms of payment

CRITERIA:
 Based on poverty threshold as set by NEDA
 Assessment of the DSWD worker in the area
 If income in the place of domicile falls below threshold

Note: If income is above the poverty threshold shall enjoy the employment
benefits

Agrarian Reform and Social Legislation

Atty. Ismael Jose Chan-Gonzaga, SJ
A.Y. 2019-2020
What are the requirements to avail of the benefits of a solo parent?

 Under Section 10, Article IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A.
8297, these can be obtained only if there is a Solo Parent Identification Card.

1. The applicants for the solo parent ID must bring the following documents to the
Social Welfare and Development Office:

 Barangay certification certifying Solo Parent’s residency in the barangay for

the last six months
 Certificates
o birth certificates of children
o death certificate of spouse and
o other appropriate documentary support
 Income tax return or any document that will establish the income level

2. The social worker receives and ensures that all documents are complete and
registers the applications with an appropriate case number in the log-book
Registry of Solo Parents.

Note: The validity of the ID is one year and is renewable.

What are the conditions for termination of privileges?

 A change in the status or circumstance of the parent claiming benefits such that
he/she is no longer left alone with the responsibility of parenthood, shall
terminate his/her eligibility for these benefits.

Agrarian Reform and Social Legislation

Atty. Ismael Jose Chan-Gonzaga, SJ
A.Y. 2019-2020