Ni NOEL ABUEL
Aabot sa 15 milyong solo parents ang inaasahang makikinabang sa inamiyendahang Solo Parents Law para mas marami ang mabigyan ng kaukulang tulong.
“Congress sees the 15 million solo parents meant to benefit from these amendments to the Solo Parents Act. Solo parents are not invisible citizens because we see their suffering and we act to address their woes,” sabi ni Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun.
Ayon pa kay Fortun, chairman ng binuong technical panel na bumalangkas sa House Bill 8097 o ang Solo Parents Law, layon nito na mabigyan ng mas maraming pribilehiyo ang mga solo parents upang makatugon sa pangangailangan nito.
“Under HB8097, we aimed to provide more privileges to our solo parents to help them in their daily needs. But taking into account the concerns of some sectors, these were tempered. Nevertheless, I am happy that the consolidated version is still able to expand the benefits currently being enjoyed by our solo parents under RA8972,” sabi nito.
“Benefits include full scholarship for the solo parent and a child of a solo parent; social safety assistance during disasters and pandemic; automatic coverage under the National Health Insurance Program; and a P1,000-monthly subsidy from the city or municipal LGUs for solo parents who are minimum wage earners and below subject to the Gender and Development Budget of the 5th class Municipalities and lower,” dagdag pa ni Fortun.
Maliban dito, makakatanggap din ng 10 porsiyentong diskuwento at VAT exemption ang mga solo parents sa gatas ng sanggol, food supplements, sanitary diaper, gamot, bakuna at iba pang medical supplements para sa nasa 6-anyos na bata pababa.
“Solo parents also get a 10% discount and VAT exemption on baby’s milk, food and supplements, sanitary diaper, and duly prescribed medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplements for children 6 and below for solo parents earning less than P250,000 annually,” ayon pa sa mambabatas.
Pinalawig ang nasabing batas sa pamamagitan ng pag-amiyenda sa salitang solo parent.
“Una dito ay ang pagpapalawig ng depinisyon ng ‘solo parent’” upang mapaigsi natin ang reckoning period para maturing na ‘solo parent’ ang isang magulang na may asawa na nakakulong o umabandona, o kaya dumaan sa legal o de facto separation; at para na rin mabigyan ng pribilehiyo ang mga nagdadalang-tao na walang kasama sa pag-aalaga sa bata na nasa kanyang sinapupunan,” ani Fortun.
“Idinagdag naman sa consolidated version ang pagturing na ‘solo parent’ sa kabiyak ng OFWs na low or semi-skilled at pagtaas sa 22 mula 18 ang gulang ng mga dependents ng solo parents para maitugma sa school age natin ngayon,” dagdag nito.
Gayundin, may 7-day parental leave na nakapaloob sa RA8972 na ginawang paid leaves upang mas magampanan ng solo parents ang kanilang tungkulin para sa kanilang mga anak.
OnlineBalita news 