Solo parents receive assistance from the Navotas City Government following a disaster event. (File)
MANILA, (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has prodded local government units (LGUs) to effectively implement the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 11861 to grant additional benefits to solo parents.
“Our LGUs have a role to play in implementing this law and we will ensure that they will coordinate with the concerned agencies to fast-track its enforcement and swiftly deliver help to our solo parents nationwide,” Abalos said.
The law expands the definition of solo parent to include spouses or any family members of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or guardians of the OFW’s child, provided that the OFW “belongs to the low/semi-skilled category and is away from the Philippines for an uninterrupted period of 12 months.”
Among the benefits of RA 11861 are:
- P1,000 monthly cash subsidy for solo parents earning minimum wage and below;
- A 10% discount and exemption from value-added tax on baby’s milk, food and micronutrient supplements, and sanitary diapers, duly prescribed medicines, vaccines and other medical supplements purchased from the birth of the child until six years of age of a single parent earning less than P250,000 annually;
- Automatic coverage under PhilHealth’s National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) with premium contributions shouldered by the government;
- Prioritization of solo parents, mothers in re-entering the workforce and their children in apprenticeships, scholarships, livelihood training and other poverty alleviation programs of the government and low-cost housing. (DILG/PIA-NCR)
