ARE YOU A SOLO

PARENT?
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
R.A 8972: SOLO PARENTS’ WELFARE ACT OF 2000 AND ITS
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS
November 7, 2000
R.A. 8972 was signed into law

November 28,2000
The law took effect

April 2002
Approval of IRR
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3,000,000...
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 WHAT is the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act?
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Provides for benefits Aims to develop a
and privileges to solo comprehensive
parents and their package of social
children. development and
welfare services for
solo parents and their
children.
DEFINITION OF
TERMS

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 WHO is a Solo Parent?
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◈ Woman who gives birth as a result of rape and
other crimes against chastity even without a final
conviction of the offender: Provided, that the mother
keeps and raises the child;
◈ Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of
parenthood due to death of spouse;
◈ Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility while
the spouse is detained or is serving sentence for a
criminal conviction for at least 1 year;
 WHO is a Solo Parent?
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◈ Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of
parenthood due to physical and/or mental
incapacity of spouse as certified by a public
medical practitioner;
◈ Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of
parenthood due to legal separation or de facto
from spouse for at least 1 year, as long as he/she
is entrusted with the custody of the children;
 WHO is a Solo Parent?
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◈ Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of
parenthood due to declaration of nullity or
annulment of marriage as decreed by a court or
by a church as long as he/she is entrusted with the
custody of the children;
◈ Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of
parenthood due to abandonment of spouse for at
least 1 year;
 WHO is a Solo Parent?
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◈ Unmarried mother/father who has preferred to keep
and rear her/his child/children instead of having others
care for them or give up to a welfare institution;
◈ Any other person who solely provides parental care
and support to a child/children;
◈ 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 parents.
 CHILDREN
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Living and dependent Even 18 years but are
upon the solo parent incapable of self-
for support who are support because of
unmarried, mental and/or physical
unemployed and not defect/disability
more than 18 years of
age
 PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
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Refers to the rights and duties of the parents as defined in
Article 220 of EO 209:
◈ 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;
◈ To give them love and affection advice and counsel,
companionship and understanding;
◈ To impose discipline...
 PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
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◈ To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance...
◈ To furnish them with good and wholesome educational
materials…
◈ To represent them in all matters affecting their
interests;
◈ To demand from them respect and obedience; and
◈ To perform such other duties as are imposed by law
 MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE

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FLEXIBLE COMPREHENSIVE
PACKAGE OF
WORK SOCIAL
SCHEDULE DEVELOPMENT
HOUSING AND WELFARE
SERVICES
BENEFITS PARENTAL
LEAVE

BENEFITS OF
EDUCATIONAL
SOLO PARENTS
BENEFITS NO WORK
DISCRIMINATION
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SOLO PARENT I.D.

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 HOW TO GET A SOLO PARENT I.D.

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TERMINATION OF BENEFITS
 “
A change in the status or
circumstances of the
parent that he/she is no
longer left alone with the
responsibility of
parenthood

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 DELA CUEVA vs. OMAGA (2010)
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In absence of clear and convincing evidence, it would be
insensitive to condemn the respondent for simply being an
unmarried mother of three. There has been no showing that
she has lived her life in a scandalous and disgraceful
manner which, by any means, has affected her standing in
the community. To speculate, that she did would
tantamount to committing a discrimination against a
solo parent which is prohibited under Sec 7 of R.A
8972.