Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11861 (Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act)

Title and Policy Declaration
- The law shall be known as the "Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act" (Section 1)
- Declares the policy of the State to support solo parents in rearing their children, provide for their basic needs, and extend assistance in social services and welfare benefits (Section 2)

Definition of Terms
- Defines key terms such as "child minding center", "children or dependents", "flexible work schedule", "parental care and support", "parental leave", and "spouse" (Section 3)

Categories of Solo Parent
- Enumerates the categories of individuals considered as solo parents, including:
    - Parent providing sole parental care due to various circumstances (Section 4(a))
    - Spouse or family member of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) (Section 4(b))
    - Unmarried mother or father (Section 4(c))
    - Legal guardian, adoptive or foster parent (Section 4(d))
    - Relative within the fourth civil degree assuming parental care (Section 4(e))
    - Pregnant woman providing sole parental care (Section 4(f))

Comprehensive Package of Social Protection Services
- Mandates the development of a comprehensive package of social protection services for solo parents and their families by the DSWD, in coordination with other government agencies and organizations (Section 5)

Work Discrimination
- Prohibits employers from discriminating against solo parent employees in terms and conditions of employment (Section 7)

Parental Leave
- Grants solo parent employees a forfeitable and non-cumulative parental leave of not more than 7 working days with pay every year (Section 8)

Educational Benefits
- Provides scholarship programs for solo parents and their children in basic, higher, and technical-vocational education institutions (Section 9)

Child Minding Centers
- Promotes the establishment of child minding centers within or near the workplace or residence of solo parents (Section 10)

Breastfeeding in the Workplace
- Encourages working solo parent mothers to practice breastfeeding in the workplace (Section 13)

Social Safety Assistance
- Entitles solo parents and their children to social safety assistance during disasters, calamities, pandemics, and public health crises (Section 14)

Additional Benefits
- Grants additional benefits to solo parents, including:
    - Means-tested monthly cash subsidy of ₱1,000 (Section 15(a))
    - Discounts and VAT exemption on certain purchases for children up to 6 years old (Section 15(b))
    - Automatic coverage under the National Health Insurance Program (Section 15(c))
    - Prioritization in apprenticeships, scholarships, livelihood training, and poverty alleviation programs (Section 15(d))
    - Prioritization and allocation in government low-cost housing projects (Section 15(e))

Limitation and Termination of Benefits
- Specifies that only solo parents exercising sole parental care and support are entitled to benefits, and benefits shall terminate upon change of status (Section 16)

Solo Parents Office or Division
- Mandates the establishment of a Solo Parents Office (SPO) in every province and city, and a Solo Parents Division (SPD) in every municipality (Section 17)

Recording and Maintaining a Solo Parents Database
- Requires the DSWD to establish and maintain a centralized database of solo parents issued with identification cards or booklets (Section 18)

Documentary Requirements
- Lists the documentary requirements for solo parents to register and obtain identification cards and booklets (Section 19)

Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC) and Booklet
- Outlines the process for issuing SPIC and booklets, which are valid for one year (Section 20)

National Solo Parents Day and Week
- Declares the third week and third Saturday of April as Solo Parents Week and National Solo Parents Day, respectively (Section 21)

Abused, Abandoned, or Neglected Solo Parents
- Provides assistance to solo parents who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by their co-parent (Section 22)

Special Protections for Adolescent Solo Parents
- Grants additional assistance to adolescent solo parents, including victims of child marriages (Section 23)

Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee
- Establishes an Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of the law (Section 24)

Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Solo Parents
- Creates a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of the law (Section 25)

Prohibited Acts and Penalties
- Imposes penalties for violations, such as refusing to provide benefits, misrepresenting status, or falsifying documents (Section 26)

Implementing Rules and Regulations
- Requires the DSWD to issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the law within 90 days (Section 27)

Appropriations
- Mandates the inclusion of necessary funds in the budgets of concerned government agencies and allows the utilization of the Gender and Development budget (Section 28)

Effectivity
- Specifies that the law shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation (Section 31)