Senate OKs expanded Solo Parents Welfare Bill on final reading

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the proposed Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.

Senate Bill 1411 which seeks to expand the government’s assistance to solo parents got 22 affirmative votes, zero negative vote, and zero abstention.

Among the benefits and privileges provided by the bill are: monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 per indigent solo parent, automatic Philippine Health Insurance Corporation coverage, and apprenticeship programs in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for eligible solo parents and their children.

According to Senate women, children, family relations and gender equality committee chairperson Risa Hontiveros, the dependents of solo parents could still receive the statutory benefits until they turn 22 years old instead of 18 years old.

The measure also expands the definition of “solo parent” to include the wife or husband of a low or semi-skilled overseas Filipino worker, such as construction and factory workers and domestic workers, who has continuously worked abroad for 12 months or more.

Under the bill, foster parents recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, legal guardians acknowledged by the court, and relatives who have the sole responsibility for caring for a child are also qualified as solo parents.

“Habang may pandemya, mas lalong mahalagang mapabilis pa ang pagsabatas nito. Naging mahirap ang pagtulak sa Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, pero saksi ako sa tiyaga ng mga solo parents sa pagkampanya para sa pagpasa nito, kaya’t lubos ang aking pasasalamat dahil hindi kami bumitaw sa laban,” Hontiveros, principal sponsor of SB 1411, said.

(Amid the pandemic, expediting the enactment of this law has become more important. Pushing for the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act has been difficult but I am a witness of the solo parents’ perseverance in campaigning for the passage of this bill that is why I am grateful that we did not give up the fight.)

“Ang pagpasa ng Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act ay pagpapatunay na ang solo parents ay may mga kakampi sa gubyerno. May mga handang tumulong para mapagaan pa ang ‘solo’ naming dinadala. At sana ang batas na ito ay magsilbing paalala na kahit ‘solo’ man kaming tawagin, hinding-hindi kami nag-iisa,” she added.

(The enactment of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act just proves that the solo parents have allies in the government. There are people who are ready to lighten the burden of the solo parents. I hope that this bill would serve as a reminder that although we are called “solo” parents, we are not alone.)

In January 2021, the House of Representatives has approved SB 1411's counterpart measure on third and final reading.—AOL, GMA News