Mga itinuturing na solo parent

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | Apr. 29, 2025

Dear Chief Acosta,

May kaibigan akong nagpakasal at ngayon ay mayroon na silang apat na anak na pawang menor-de-edad. Ang asawa niya ay nahatulan ng krimen ng pagnanakaw. Nakalulungkot sapagkat pinatawan ang asawa niya ng parusang pagkakakulong sa loob ng dalawang taon. Noong nakaraang taon ay inaresto at ikinulong na ang asawa niya para pagsilbihan ang sentensiya. Sa ngayon, higit na anim na buwan na nagsisilbi ng sentensiya ang asawa niya. Ang katanungan ko ay kung maituturing ba na solo parent ang kaibigan ko at maaaring gumamit ng solo parent leave? — Graziella

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Dear Graziella,

Ang Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8972, na kilala bilang “Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000,” ay pinagtibay upang magbigay ng komprehensibong benepisyo at sistema ng suporta sa mga solong magulang at kanilang mga anak. Kinilala ng batas na ito ang mga natatanging hamon na kinakaharap ng mga solong magulang, kabilang ang mga pinansiyal na pasanin, diskriminasyon sa lugar ng trabaho, at mga kahirapan sa pagbalanse ng mga responsibilidad sa pamilya at propesyon. Kabilang sa mga pangunahing probisyon ng batas na ito na may kaugnayan sa paggawa ay ang pagbibigay ng benepisyo ng parental leave sa mga kuwalipikadong solong magulang.

Noong 2022, pinagtibay ang R.A. No. 11861, na kilala bilang “Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.” Inamyendahan at mas pinalawak nito ang saklaw ng R.A. No. 8972 sa kung sino ang maituturing na solo parent.  Pinalaki at nilinaw rin nito ang mga benepisyo, at ipinakilala ang mga karagdagang interbensyon ng pamahalaan upang mapabuti ang kapakanan ng mga solong magulang at kanilang mga anak.

Makikita sa Seksyon 4 ng R.A. No. 11861 ang mga kategorya at kung sinu-sino ang maituturing na solo parent: 

“Section 4. Categories of Solo Parent. – A solo parent refers to any individual who falls under any of the following categories:

(a) A parent who provides sole parental care and support of the child or children due to –

(1) Birth as a consequence of rape, even without final conviction: Provided, That the mother has the sole parental care and support of the child or children: Provided, further, That the solo parent under this category may still be considered a solo parent under any of the categories in this section;

(2) Death of the spouse;

(3) Detention of the spouse for at least three (3) months or service of sentence for a criminal conviction;

(4) Physical or mental incapacity of the spouse as certified by a public or private medical practitioner; 

(5) Legal separation or de facto separation for at least six (6) months, and the solo parent is entrusted with the sole parental care and support of the child or children;

(6) Declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage, as decreed by a court recognized by law, or due to divorce, subject to existing laws, and the solo parent is entrusted with the sole parental care and support of the child or children; or

(7) Abandonment by the spouse for at least six (6) months;

(b) Spouse or any family member of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), or the guardian of the child or children of an OFW: Provided, That the said OFW belongs to the low/semi-skilled worker category and is away from the Philippines for an uninterrupted period of twelve (12) months: Provided, further, That the OFW, his or her spouse, family member, or guardian of the child or children of an OFW falls under the requirements of this section;

(c) Unmarried mother or father who keeps and rears the child or children;

(d) Any legal guardian, adoptive or foster parent who solely provides parental care and support to a child or children;

(e) Any relative within fourth (4th) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of the parent or legal guardian who assumes parental care and support of the child or children as a result of the death, abandonment, disappearance or absence of the parents or solo parent for at least six (6) months: Provided, That in cases of solo grandparents who are senior citizens but who have the sole parental care and support over their grandchildren who are unmarried, or unemployed and twenty-two (22) years old or below, or those twenty-two (22) years old or over but who are unable to fully take care or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition, they shall be entitled to the benefits of this Act in addition to the benefits granted to them by Republic Act No. 9257, otherwise known as the ‘Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003’; or

(f) A pregnant woman who provides sole parental care and support to the unborn child or children.”

Ibig sabihin, kung susuriin ang probisyong nabanggit sa itaas, ang iyong kaibigan ay maaaring ituring na solo parent. Papasok ang kanyang sitwasyon sa Seksyon 4(a)(3), kung saan nakasaad na, “A parent who provides sole parental care and support of the child or children due to detention of the spouse for at least three (3) months or service of sentence for a criminal conviction.”

Tungkol naman sa katanungan mo kung siya ay maaaring gumamit ng solo parent leave, kailangan niyang matugunan lahat ng kondisyon na nasa Seksyon 8 ng R.A. No. 8972.  Nakasaad dito na:

“Section 8. Parental Leave. – In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, a forfeitable and noncumulative parental leave of not more than seven (7) working days with pay every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee, regardless of employment status, who has rendered service of at least six (6) months: Provided, That the parental leave benefit may be availed of by the solo parent employees in the government and the private sector. (As amended by R.A. 11861)”

Ngayon, kung ang mga kondisyon na nakalatag sa Seksyon 8 ng R.A. No. 8972 ay matutugunan ng iyong kaibigan, maaari siyang mag-apply ng solo parent leave sa kanyang employer hanggang pitong araw sa isang taon.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay. 

Maraming salamat sa iyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.