Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has vowed to continue coordinating with the members of the inter-agency committee involved in the provision of benefits to solo parents as mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents’ Welfare Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The DSWD chief has told members of the House Committee on Appropriations that other agencies are yet to provide their own guidelines needed to start the programs and services for solo parents.

“Mayroon na kaming na-publish na benefits ng solo parents together with other departments, pero we will continue at paulit-ulit naming kukulitin ang ibang departamento para makuha namin pa ‘yung iba,” Secretary Gatchalian said in response to ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo’s query on the implementation of the expanded solo parents benefits during the August 21 House committee deliberation on the proposed DSWD budget for 2025.

Secretary Gatchalian told the appropriations committee that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have already submitted their respective list of benefits for solo parents but some agencies have yet to provide their own listing.

In response to Secretary Gatchalian’s feedback,  Congressman Tulfo said he will assist the DSWD in following up with the concerned agencies during their respective budget hearings.

“Madame Chair, hindi na po kailangan ni Secretary na kulitin po ito. Tayo na po ang mangungulit dahil dadaan po sila sa budget hearing,” Congressman Tulfo, who was also a former DSWD secretary, said.

RA 11861, which amended RA 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000, promotes the rights of Filipino solo parents and ensures that they can receive adequate social protection programs from the government. The IRR of the expanded law was signed on September 20, 2022.

Under the expanded law, solo parents who are earning less than P250,000 annually are entitled to a 10 percent discount and exemption from the value-added tax on their child’s milk, food, micronutrient supplements, sanitary diapers, duly prescribed medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplements from the birth of the child until they turn 6 years old.

Other benefits provided under RA 11861 are monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 from their respective local government units (LGUs); prioritization in low-cost housing projects through the National Housing Authority (NHA); automatic coverage under PhilHealth’s National Health Insurance Program (NHIP); and access to scholarships and other educational programs of the Department of Education (DEPeD), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and TESDA, among others.

The DSWD chairs the solo parents’ Inter-agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee (IACMC).#