Bong Go Bill Pushes to Give More Benefits and Privileges for Solo Parents
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go pushes bill that seeks to provide better benefits and privileges for solo parents and their children.
In his co-sponsorship speech of Senate Bill No. 1411, or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2020, Go emphasized that the improvements introduced in the law are aimed at recapturing the loss of some 14 million solo parents in the country who mourn the poverty of single-handedly raising their children.
“Alam nating lahat na ang pagiging solo parent ay hindi madali (Everybody knows being a solo parent is not easy). Solo parents are both the breadwinners and caregivers of their families,” Go said.
“As such, they should be acknowledged appropriately. As the law now stands, the privileges and benefits awarded to them are insufficient and show a lack of understanding for the complexity of their needs,” he added.
According to the report of Manila Times, said the additional benefits provided by the proposal to solo parents includes special discounts on basic purchases, such as clothing, baby milk, and food, and medicine. Children of solo parents are entitled to tuition discounts from public and private schools.
“These additional benefits include providing solo parents with special discounts on basic purchases, such as clothes, baby’s milk and food, and medicine. Children of solo parents will also be entitled to tuition discounts from public and private schools,” the senator explained.
He added that employment benefits are also included in the proposal to help solo parents in their working environment. This includes a seven-day parental leave with pay for those who are working in the government or private sector.
Also, single parents who work in a comprehensive package of social protection services, such as livelihood development services and counseling services. The proposed measure would reduce the required length of service to six months instead and specify that the rest should be provided ‘with pay.’
“I am pushing for these amendments to the existing law to cater to as many solo parents as possible, to help them build a stronger family and to support them as productive members of society,” he said.
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