“Ngayon po pati asawa ng OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) pwede nang i-consider na solo parent.”
This was the explanation made by Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Statutory Programs under Operations Group during her presentation on the salient provisions of Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act at the agency’s Thursday Media Forum on April 24.
Asst. Secretary Colico said spouses of Filipinos working abroad for one year and above and belonging to the low/semi-skilled worker category will be regarded as solo parents who are entitled to benefits and privileges accorded by the law.
“Dapat po ang duration is continuous na one year and above. Kahit po ikaw ay may sustento pero ikaw ay solely na nag-aalaga sa iyong anak, pwede na pong ma-considered as solo parent yun,” Asst. Secretary Colico told reporters at the Media Forum.
Under the law, a solo parent can be categorized as a parent that provides sole parental care and support to a child or children due to abandonment; birth as a consequence of rape even without final conviction; death of a spouse; detention of spouse or partner with a minimum of 3 months conviction; legal separation or nullity or annulled marriage; and, whose spouse has physical or mental disability.
Asst. Secretary Colico also highlighted that the law expanded the definition of solo parents to make it more inclusive to the current situation of parents and legal guardians who are providing sole parental care and support to a child or children.
Aside from a spouse of OFWs, those who are legal guardians, adoptive or foster parent, and relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of the parent or legal guardian may apply as a solo parent as long as they solely assumed the provision of parental care and support to a child or children.
A pregnant woman who provides sole parental care and support to her unborn child or children may also apply as a solo parent.
In the Media Forum, the DSWD official also discussed the benefits and privileges of solo parents that are mandated by R.A. 11861.
The salient features of the law include a monthly cash subsidy of Php1,000 from the solo parent’s respective local government units (LGUs) for those earning minimum wage or below; automatic coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth); and, prioritization in housing allocation and workforce.
The expanded act also mandates a 10 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax (VAT) for solo parents earning less than Php250,000 annually on the purchase of their child’s milk, food, micronutrient supplements, sanitary diapers, prescribed medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplies from birth until the child turns six years old.
Solo parents and their children will also have access to scholarships and other educational programs from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Asst. Secretary Colico also reminded solo parents that they must be recognized by their local government units (LGUs) as solo parents before they can avail of the benefits and privileges under RA 11861.
“Para ma-consider as a solo parent, dapat po recognized ka rin ng government, through the local government units. Hindi po ang DSWD ang nag-iissue [ng solo parent ID]. It is the local government units, through their city social welfare and development offices or their municipal social welfare and development offices,” Asst. Secretary Colico explained.
The Statutory Programs head also pointed out that the solo parent ID is renewable every year.
“Ang kaibahan po kasi sa solo parent, nire-renew kasi sya [ID] annually. Hindi katulad ng persons with disability na life time or sa senior citizens. Sa solo parents po renewable sya every year,” Asst. Secretary Colico said.