Senate ratifies Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Bill

The Senate on Monday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.

According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate’s contingent at the bicameral conference, the final version of the bill included the following provisions:

• The expansion of the definition of solo parents to include spouses of low-skill overseas Filipino workers away from the country for an uninterrupted period
• The decrease in the number of months of employment before the availment of the Solo Parent leave
• The increase in the age ceiling of the child of the solo parent for the availment of benefits, to align this measure with the K-12 educational system
• The provision of a P1,000 pesos ayuda for minimum wage-earning solo parents
• Other benefits such as educational scholarships for eligible children of eligible solo parents, a 10% discount on specific medicines for low-income solo parents with children 6 years and below, prioritization in low-cost housing, and Philhealth coverage
• Increased safeguards against fraud and leakage to ensure that only those who are legitimately solo parents would enjoy the benefits of the law.

“Kaming mga solo parents ay labis labis na nagpapasalamat sa Kongresong ito na itinawid ang mahalagang panukalang batas na ito na magbibigay ng karagdagang tulong sa aming mga solo nanay at solo tatay na mag-isang nagtataguyod ng aming mga anak,” she said.

(We solo parents are thankful to this Congress for pushing this important legislation which will give additional help to all solo mothers and fathers who raise our children all by ourselves.)

On December 13, 2021, the Senate approved their version of the bill on third and final reading.

After the House of Representatives ratifies the bicameral conference committee report, the proposed law would be up for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature. — DVM, GMA News