MANILA- Former President and House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is proposing to grant additional rights and benefits of single parents, including flexible work hours and discounts for purchases.

House Bill No. 1520 seeks to amend Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 by reducing the waiting time for a solo parent to become entitled under the law to only six months from the current one year waiting period.



The bill also has a provision which considers one as a solo parent if the other spouse has not been employed or has suffered from a disability for at least six months.

Arroyo is also proposing additional benefits such as flexible work schedules, and discounts to certain baby supplies namely: children's clothing materials (10 percent), baby's milk and food supplements that are purchased within the first two years of the child (15 percent) and medical supplements used by children aged 5 years old and below (15 percent).

If passed, solo parents who wish to avail of such benefits must secure an identification card from the local chief executive where he/she resides upon submission of proper documents determined by the Inter-Agency Coordinating and Monitoring Committee to be headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).



Failure to comply will meet a penalty ranging from P10,000 to P200,000 and/or imprisonment from six months to two years while those who will be caught with falsified documents to avail of the benefits will merit a penalty of not more than P50,000 and/or imprisonment of not less than six months.