ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo filed a resolution today (August 1) urging the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the status of the implementation of Republic Act 11861, otherwise known as the “Expanded Solo Parents Act.”
In a two-page House Resolution No. 1150, Tulfo, who is a former secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), disclosed that he is receiving various reports that due to lack of allocated funding to the local government units (LGU), the timely receipt of benefits by solo parents has been adversely affected.
“It has come to my attention that the implementation of the Expanded Solo Parent Act under Republic Act 11861 should be and must be revisited due to non-compliance of several of its provisions, ironically by several local government units and business establishments,” Tulfo said in a statement.
Under the law, additional benefits must be given to solo parents such as P1,000 per month, 10 percent discount and exemption from the value-added tax on the specified item, automatic coverage under the National Health Insurance Program, prioritization in re-entering the workforce and prioritization and allocation in housing projects, subject to meeting the necessary requirements to avail of the said benefits.
However, the lawmaker said, despite the good intention of the law, he is receiving numerous reports that some of the provision of the law was not implemented due to lack of funding particularly in some poor municipalities, prompting Tulfo to file the said resolution to urge Congress to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation.
This beautiful law was crafted to help solo parents from the burden of raising their children by themselves,” Tulfo added. “However, what good will it be if our solo parents do not fully benefit from this that was intended solely to help them raise their children.”
“Kaya tinatawagan ko ang aking mga kasamahan na muling silipin ang batas na ito, partikular ang hindi pagbibigay ng P1,000 allowance kada buwan ng maraming LGUs sa mga kwalipikadong solo parents,” Tulfo also said.
Likewise, the solon also calls on the attention of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to make sure that discounts for solo parents must be given by business establishments nationwide.
“And I call upon the private corporations and government institutions to hire solo parents not only because it is stated in the law, but as Filipinos helping a solo parent unload the heavy burden of raising a child or children singlehandedly,” Tulfo urged.
