Amid the bureaucratic layers that attended the full implementation of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act (Republic Act 11861), there is still a glimmer of hope for solo mothers who comprise more than 93 percent of single parents in the Philippines.
Several legislative measures at the House of Representatives have been filed seeking to make applications and collecting benefits easier for solo parents.
Since the 20th Congress, at least three resolutions (House Resolutions No. 27, 99 and 173) call for an inquiry in aid of legislation into the implementation of RA 11861.
On a similar note, House Bills No. 6328 and 8256 push for strengthening the enforcement of both solo parent laws.
HB No. 2372 aims to amend RA Nos. 8972 and 11861 to simplify the process to register as solo parents, while HB No. 1030 particularly seeks the removal of barangay certification for the issuance of solo parent identification cards.
Further, HB Nos. 240, 2059, 2231, 3059, 4088, 5331, 6979, 6995, 7310 and 8088 seek to provide more benefits under the existing solo parents laws, some of which particularly call for financial assistance; mental health and wellness support; and exemptions from parking fees.
Other solo parent-related legislation includes HB No. 1423, which would provide for a six-percent budgetary allocation at the barangay level to implement programs for solo parents among other sectors.
They also include HB No. 2057, which would amend the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act to include a provision on solo parents.
Meanwhile, HB No. 6330 aims to penalize derogatory remarks against solo parents on the basis of their social status; and HB No. 8120 seeks to advance free tertiary education and mandatory tuition discounts for children of solo parents.
All House bills but HB Nos. 2057 and 6979 are still pending in their respective committees.
The former has been referred to a technical working group, while the latter has been transmitted to and received by the Senate.
HB No. 6979 would expand travel tax exemptions to include solo parents among other sectors.
Determination pays
No matter how difficult the process is, mothers Emer and Ligaya, both 55, are grateful that there is at least a law that supports them as single parents.
Both are active leaders of a chapter of their solo parents’ group in Quezon City and Pasay City, respectively.
Emer, the family breadwinner with seven children, manages to get by as a beautician. She and her husband had encouraged three of their children to enroll in a fencing training program mounted by a local congressman, also offering a scholarship.
Tragedy struck when her husband passed away about eight years ago. Ultimately, all three of her children would go on to become medalists in fencing, not least of which is her daughter, Jylyn, who won gold at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
”Pag may determination ka sa sarili mo na gusto mo bigyan ng magandang bukas yung mga anak mo, marami kang isa-sacrifice. Hindi mo iintindihin yung hirap, yung puyat,’ Emer said.
(If you have the determination within yourself that you want to give your children a bright future, you’d sacrifice a lot. You wouldn’t mind the pain, the sleepless nights.)
‘Siguro, lahat ng diyos tinawag ko noon para lang mabigyan ng magandang bukas mga anak ko,’ she added.
(I must’ve called all the gods I can call just so I can give a bright future to my kids.)
Emer knew firsthand the hardships of being a single parent, and she knew that there are many others like her who are trying to keep afloat amid the rising cost of basic commodities and to give their children a shot at a brighter future.
Now as one of the directors of the National Council for Solo Parents, it became Emer’s advocacy to help single parents get oriented with what services are available to them under the law.
Ligaya, meanwhile, who used to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong and is now a freelancer in Manila, is grateful that the solo parent program helped her enroll her kids via a scholarship.
Her husband had died of cancer, leaving her with four children to raise on her own, and a huge medical bill to pay off. She is thankful that by the time she found herself alone to care for her family, two of her children have already finished their studies, while one of the two remaining kids still completing their studies has a scholarship.
Her own experiences as a solo parent led her into to a solo parents’ group in Pasay, which she now leads.
‘May mga programa naman ang mga solo parents na scholarship. Napakalaking bagay yun para sa amin… Mahirap kasi wala kang kaagapay,’ she said.
(There are some scholarship programs out there for solo parents. That’s a big deal for us… It’s hard not to have help.)
For her part, Abigail is not losing hope, but that doesn’t erase the fact that help should be extended to those who need them the most.
‘We are often not helpless. We just want to protect our babies,’ said Abigail, who has joined her own group of solo parents. ‘Hindi lang ako nag-iisa. Marami kami at pwede kami magtulungan.’
(I’m not alone. There’s so many of us and we can help each other.)
Emmalyn, on another hand, is proud that both her children turned out to be not only such achievers but also understanding of their mother’s journey in navigating parenthood alone.
‘Hindi man naging perpekto ng pagkakaroon ng buong pamilya, pero yung pagpapalaki, perpekto,’ she said. ‘Lakasan ang loob. Dasal sa bawat araw.’