Go files bill seeking more benefits for single parents

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has filed a bill seeking to provide additional benefits and privileges to some 14 million solo parents in the country.

In a statement on Monday, Go said he filed Senate Bill No. 206, which aims to amend the Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000.

It states that the "benefits and privileges" granted by the existing law "are not sufficient to provide for the needs of the single parents who are both the breadwinner and the caregiver of the family."

If passed into law, the bill will grant solo parents "additional special discounts in purchases."

This would include 10 percent off on clothes for babies up to two years old, 15 percent off on baby's milk and food up to two years old, and 15 percent off on medicine up to five years old.

The statement said children of solo parents will also enjoy 10 percent tuition discount in public and private schools from grade one to college and 20 percent discount on school supplies until 21 years old, it added.

To avail of these privileges, solo parents will need to apply for a Solo Parent Identification Card from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office and present the card to the companies and establishments from whom discounted purchases are made, the statement said.

Companies and establishments are likewise allowed to claim the discounts as part of their business expense, it added.

The bill also proposes that "amnesty or reduction of real estate and inheritance taxes will be given to solo parents, and P50,000 will be added to their exemption from individual income tax."

The proposal was also said to include employment benefits.

Under the existing law, a solo parent employee who has rendered service of at least one year shall be granted parental leave of not more than seven working days. But SB 206 "lowers the required length of service to six months" and "specifies that the leave should be granted with pay."

Go also seeks to "expand" the definition of solo parent.

Under Section 3 of SB 206, a solo parent is defined as an individual who falls under any of the following categories:

"A woman who gives birth as a result of rape and other crimes against chastity, even without a final conviction of the offender; provided, that the mother keeps and raises the child;

"Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due death of spouse;

"Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood while spouse is detained or is serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at least one (1) year;

"Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to physical and/or mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a public medical practitioner;

"Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for at least six (6) months, provided he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children;

"Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage as decreed by a court or by a church, provided he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children;

"Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to abandonment of spouse for at least six (6) months;

"Unmarried mother/father who has preferred to keep and rear his/her child/children; who has actual custody of the said child/children, instead of having others care for them or giving them up to a welfare institution;

"Any other person who bears sole parental responsibility a child or children, including a foster parent duly-recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a legal guardian appointed by the court or a legal single adoptive parent; and

"Any family member who assumes the responsibility as the head of the family resulting from the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of the parents or solo parent."

An amendment in Go's bill also aims to include duly recognized foster parents.

"I am pushing for this amendment to the existing law to cater to as many solo parents as possible, to help them build a stronger family despite their situation, and to support them as productive members of society," Go said.

As penalties, the bill proposes P200,000 or imprisonment of up to two years to be imposed on "any person, corporation, entity or agency which refuses or fails to provide the benefits granted to solo parents." — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News