Parents cheered when the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, or RA 11861, came into law earlier this month, providing new perks to solo parents such as discounts.
And in case you’ve forgotten or you’ve wondered whether the law has taken effect yet, here is your reminder that the solo parent ID exists and can be helpful for getting discounts from certain establishments. Case in point — this social media post that’s making the rounds from a solo parent who got a discount on her McDonalds order using her ID.
To clarify, the law specifically provides perks to solo parents such as a 10 percent discount on baby essentials such as milk, food, micronutrient supplements, and sanitary diapers, as well as medicines, vaccines, and supplements for children under 6 years of age.
That said, some towns and cities have passed their own local ordinances granting more benefits to solo parent ID bearers, such as additional discounts for other purchases. For example, Quezon City grants a 20 percent discount to solo parents dining at restaurants with their children on the first and fourth Sundays of every month (which is similar to how the woman in the Facebook post above was able to get her 20% discount).
Senator Risa Hontiveros authored the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act. The law also provides low-income solo parents with a PHP1000 (US$18.18) cash subsidy each month, prioritizes them for poverty alleviation programs, and entitles their children to scholarship programs.
Under the new law, unmarried parents exercising sole parental authority over their children for at least six months may qualify as solo parents. Spouses of overseas Filipino workers in a low or semi-skilled category who have been away from the country for a year may also qualify.
READ: New law gives solo parents discounts on baby essentials, PHP1000 monthly subsidies
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