The Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list today hailed the nearing enactment of the proposed Expanded Solo Parents’ Welfare bill, which they said would greatly help around 15 million solo parents in the country raise their children.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa nalalapit na pagsasabatas ng Expanded Solo Parents’ Welfare Act. Malaki ang maitutulong nito lalo na sa mga minimum wage workers nang mas maayos nilang mapalaki ang kanilang mga anak,” PEACE PL president and first nominee Marie Paz T. Abante said.
Abante said the measure is a “timely infusion of support” for solo parents amid the increased challenges brought about by the pandemic.
The proposed Expanded Solo Parents’ Welfare Act now only needs Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s signature after both the House of Representatives and the Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report of the measure, which increases the benefits provided under Republic Act No. 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000.
Among the added benefits of the proposed measure are the provision of P1,000 monthly cash aid to minimum wage-earning solo parents; decrease in the required number of months of employment before availing of the solo parent leave; and expansion of the definition of “solo parents” to include spouses of low-skilled overseas Filipino workers who have been away from the country for an uninterrupted period of time.
Other benefits include the increase in the age ceiling of the child of the solo parent for availment of benefits, to align the measure with the K-12 educational system; scholarships for eligible children of solo parents; a 10 percent discount on specific medicines for low-income solo parents with children 6 years and below, prioritization in low-cost housing, and automatic PhilHealth coverage.
She also expressed hope that the President would sign the proposed measure soon.
Abante said the measure is a “timely infusion of support” for solo parents amid the increased challenges brought about by the pandemic.
The long-time educator also lauded the provision of educational benefits, as she emphasized the potential of education to break the cycle of poverty.
“Mahalaga ang papel ng mga educational benefits na ito upang maipagpatuloy ng mga anak ng solo parents ang kanilang pagaaral. These benefits provide a needed boost so that children can break the cycle of poverty through their studies,” said Abante.
She also expressed hope that the President would sign the proposed measure soon.
