Benefits and Privileges of Solo Parents
Benefits and Privileges of Solo Parents
Benefits and Privileges of Solo Parents
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8972 is also known as the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000. However, it does
not mean that the provisions of the said law are only exclusively applicable to parents. Aside from parents
who were left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood, Section 3 (a) of R.A. No. 8972 defines
the term solo parent as: x x x (9) Any other person who solely provides parental care and support to a
child or children; (10) Any family member who assumes the responsibility of head of family as a result of
the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of the parents or solo parent.
Furthermore, the privileges afforded by R.A. No. 8972 are not only for the promotion of the welfare of
minor children. The term children is explicitly defined under the law as those living with and dependent
upon the solo parent for support, who are unmarried, unemployed and not more than eighteen (18) years
of age, or even over eighteen (18) years but are incapable of self-support because of mental and/or
physical defect/disability (Section 3 (b), id).
Taking these into consideration, we believe that you may be entitled to the benefits and privileges granted
under the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 notwithstanding the fact that your niece is already 20 years
old, provided that her physical defect or disability has rendered her incapable not only of walking but of
self-support. Moreover, the provisions of the said law may apply to you even if you are not in fact a
parent, provided that your niece is actually living with you and is solely dependent upon you for parental
care and support.
Should you be able to establish these factors, you may avail yourself of the parental leave and a flexible
work schedule as long as the same do not affect your individual productivity and that of the company
(Sections 8 and 6, id). You may also avail yourself of the educational benefits being given by the
Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), as well as allocations in low cost housing projects and
medical assistance, if so qualified (Sections 10 and 11, id).
Binibigyan ng parental leave ang mga solo parents sa pamahalaan upang magkaroon sila ng
higit na panahon para gampanan ang parental duties nila, lalo na sa mga sitwasyon na
hinihingi ang kanilang physical presence.
Ilang araw ang ibinibigay na parental leave? Sa aling mga pagkakataon ito
pwedeng gamitin?
Pitong (7) araw sa isang taon ang ibinibigay na parental leave ayon sa guidelines ng CSC.
Pwede itong ma-avail sa mga sumusunod na pagkakataon:
Personal milestones ng bata (i.e. kaarawan, first communion, graduation);
Pagdalo sa PTA meetings or school programs;
Pag-asikaso sa medical, social, spiritual and recreational needs ng bata;
At iba pang circumstances kung saan required ang physical presence ng tumatayong
magulang.
Paano ang proseso ng pag-avail nito?
Kumuha ng Solo Parent Identification Card mula sa City or Municipal Social Welfare and
Development Office. Ang ID Card na ito ay valid for one year at renewable kada taon.
Sagutan ang CS Form No. 6 at i-submit ito kasama ng certified true copies ng Solo Parent
ID at birth certificate ng bata (at least one week prior to availment)
Mandatory ang approval ng application for parental leave mula sa Head of Office/Agency
basta valid at nasunod lahat ng conditions at requirements.
Paid leave ba ito?
Opo, ibig sabihin makakakuha ng sweldo ang solo parent sa mga araw na pinili niyang i-avail
ang kanyang parental leave.
Paano kung hindi naubos ng solo parent ang pitong araw na special leave niya,
maaari pa ba itong gamitin sa susunod na taon?
Hindi, forfeited na ito.
Paano kung ang isang solo parent ay nakapag-asawa, maaari pa ba siyang magapply ng parental leave?
Mate-terminate ang parental leave kung nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa status o sa sitwasyon
ng pamilya ng isang solo parent. Halimbawa, nag-asawa siya o ang responsibilidad ng
pagpapalaki sa bata ay nailipat na sa kamag-anak o sa isang welfare institution.