Senate OKs solo parents welfare bill

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate approved on third and final reading yesterday the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, which will benefit around 15 million single parents, 95 percent of whom are women.

With 22 affirmative votes, zero negative and no abstention, senators passed Senate Bill 1411, which amended Republic Act 8972.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate committee on women, children and family relations and gender equality, thanked her colleagues for the passage of the bill.

“It is a victory for solo parents who are striving to improve the welfare of their children,” Hontiveros said.

She said the salient features of the bill are monthly cash subsidy of P1,000 per indigent solo parent, automatic PhilHealth coverage and apprenticeship programs at the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority for qualified single parents and their children.