SOLO PARENTS WELFARE ACT OF 2000

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972

Solo Parent

A solo parent is a person left alone with the responsibility of

parenthood due to the following circumstances:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

i)

j)

Giving birth as a result of rape or crimes against chastity;

Death of spouse;
Detention or imprisonment of spouse for at least one (1) year;
Physical or mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a public
medical practitioner;
Legal separation/de facto separation from spouse for at least one
(1) year;
Declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage;
Abandonment of spouse for at least one (1) year;
An unmarried mother/father who preferred to keep and rear
his/her child or children instead of having others care for them
or give them up to a welfare institution;
A foster parent duly licensed by the Department of Social
Welfare and Development or a legal guardian appointed by the
court, who solely provides parental care and support to a child or
children;
A 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, provided, that
such abandonment, disappearance, or absence lasts for at least
one (1) year.
Parental Responsibility

Refer to the rights and duties of the parents as defined in Article

220 of the Family Code of the Philippines and hereunder enumerated
as follows:
a. To keep them in their company, to support, educate and instruct
them by right precept and good example and to provide for their
upbringing in keeping with their means;
b. To give them love and affection, advice and counsel,
companionship and understanding;
c. To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in
them honesty, integrity, self-discipline, self-reliance, industry and
thrift, stimulate their interest in civic affairs, and inspire in them
compliance with the duties of citizenship;
d. To furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials,
supervise their activities, recreation and association with others,
protect them from bad company, and prevent them from
acquiring habits detrimental to their health, studies and morals;

e. To present them in all matters affecting their interest;

f. To demand from them respect and obedience;
g. To impose discipline on them as may be required under the
circumstances; and
h. To perform such other duties as are imposed by law and upon
parents and guardians.

Children

Refer to 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.
Benefits available to a solo parent
These benefits can be enjoyed as long as the solo parent
continues to be left alone with the responsibility of parenthood.
Qualifications of Solo Parents:
1) A resident of the area where the assistance is sought, as
certified by the barangay captain; Provided, that if the solo
parent is a transferee from another barangay, he/she is required
to secure a clearance from his/her previous barangay, indicating
whether or not he/she has availed of any benefits for solo
parents, and the nature of such benefits
2) With an income level equal to or below the poverty threshold.
Any solo parent whose income is above the poverty threshold
shall enjoy the benefits such as: flexible work schedule, work
discrimination, parental leave and housing benefits.
The Solo Parents Welfare Act accords solo parents the following
benefits:
1. Flexible work schedule
Flexible work schedule is a system whereby a solo parentemployee is given the right to vary his/her arrival and departure
time without affecting the core work hours as defined by the
employer.
The employer is obliged to provide for a flexible working
schedule for solo parents as long as it does not affect individual and
company productivity. If individual or company productivity will be
affected, the employer may request exemption from the
Department of Labor and Employment.

In this case of employees in the government service, flexible

working hours will be subject to the discretion of the head of the
agency. In no case shall the weekly working hours be reduced in
the event the agency adopts the flexible working hours schedule
format (flexi-time). In the adoption of flexi-time, the core working
hours shall be prescribed taking into consideration the needs of the
service.
The solo parent is entitled to the flexible work schedule even if
his/her income is above the poverty threshold set by the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and assessment of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
2. Parental leave of not more than seven (7) days
Parental leave is time-off granted to a solo parent to enable
him/her to perform parental duties and responsibilities where
physical presence is required.
Solo parent-employees who have rendered service for at least
one (1) year are entitled to parental leave of not more than seven
(7) working days every year.
The seven-day parental leave
convertible to cash, if unused.

is

non-cumulative

and

not

Conditions for Entitlement to Parental Leave

The parental leave for solo parents can be availed of if the
following conditions are complied with:
a. The solo parent must have rendered at least one (1) year
of service, whether continuous or broken;
b. The solo parent must give notice to the employer of the
availment thereof within a reasonable time period; and
c. The solo parent must present his Solo Parent Identification
Card to the employer.
The solo parent is entitled to parental leave even if his/her
income is above the poverty threshold set by the National and
Development Authority (NEDA) and assessment of the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
3. Housing benefits on liberal terms in low-cost government
housing
Solo parents are entitled to be given allocation in government
low-cost housing projects on liberal terms of payment, under the
following conditions:

a. The solo parent applying for housing benefits must meet

the qualification criteria for housing assistance under the
Urban Development and Housing Act and other eligibility
criteria set by the National Housing Authority; and
b. The eligible solo parent must file their application for
housing unit directly with the concerned National Housing
Authority Project Offices.
4. Educational benefits
The following are the
available to solo parents:

educational

benefits

and

privileges

a. Scholarship programs for qualified solo parents and their

children in institutions of basic, tertiary and technical/skills
education; and
b. Non-formal education programs appropriate for solo
parents and their children.
Procedure for Availing Educational Benefits
To avail of the educational benefits under the Solo Parents
Welfare Act, the solo parent must:
a. Secure an application from either Department of
Education, Commission on Higher Education or Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
depending on his need; and
b. Submit the duly accomplished application form together
with the following document:
i.
Solo Parent Identification Card;
ii.
Barangay Clearance;
iii.
Birth Certificate;
iv. Notice of admission from the school; and
v. Original or Certified True Copy of the transcript of
record, or the Report Card of the last year the
applicant attended school
Only solo parents whose income in the place of domicile falls
below the poverty threshold as set by the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) and as assessed by the Department
of Social Welfare and Development are eligible for educational
benefits.
5. Medical assistance
Only solo parents whose income in the place of domicile falls
below the poverty threshold as set by the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) and as assessed by the Department
of Social Welfare and Development are eligible for medical
assistance.

6. Comprehensive package
welfare services

of

social

development

and

The DSWD shall coordinate with concerned agencies (DSWD,

DECS, CHED, TESDA, DOLE, NHA and DILG) the implementation of
the comprehensive package of social development and welfare
services for solo parents and their families. The package will initially
include:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Livelihood development services

Counseling services
Parent effectiveness services
Critical incidence stress debriefing
Special projects for individuals in need of protection

7. Work discrimination
No employer shall discriminate against any solo parent employee
with respect to terms and conditions of employment on account of
his/her status.