Source: PIA file photo
Support for solo parents in 2025 budget pushed
AS the bicameral conference committee began deliberating the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), House Deputy Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera renewed her call for the inclusion of key provisions aimed at enhancing support for solo parents.
Dubbed the “Solon ng Soloista,” Herrera underscored the urgency of addressing the unique challenges faced by solo parents, saying that these measures are crucial to providing equitable access to government benefits for one of the country’s most vulnerable sectors.
“Solo parents face unique challenges that often go unaddressed. The national budget is an opportunity to correct this imbalance by ensuring that the law provides explicit and inclusive benefits for them,” Herrera said.
Herrera highlighted three priority provisions for inclusion in the GAA to support solo parents: granting parental leave for job order and contract of service employees in government; ensuring priority access to free higher education for children of solo parents; and mandating PhilHealth coverage with government-subsidized premiums for solo parents.
The first measure seeks to grant a seven-day paid parental leave to solo parents employed in government under job order or contract of service arrangements.
Herrera noted that while Republic Act No. 11861, or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, provides for parental leave, it does not explicitly include government workers with non-regular employment status.
“This omission leaves a significant number of solo parents without access to a vital benefit. We must address this by ensuring that parental leave is extended to all solo parents in government service, regardless of employment status,” Herrera explained.
The second proposed provision focuses on priority access to free higher education for children of solo parents under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UniFAST) program.
Herrera cited Section 9 of RA 11861, which guarantees scholarships for one child of a solo parent and prioritizes other children for free higher education.
“This prioritization is essential to ensuring that solo parents’ children have equal access to quality education. By inserting this provision, we align the implementation of these laws and remove ambiguities that could hinder access,” Herrera said.
Lastly, Herrera pushed for mandatory PhilHealth coverage for solo parents, with premium contributions subsidized by the national government.
She also proposed developing exclusive health packages tailored to the specific needs of solo parents.
“Healthcare remains a critical concern for solo parents. Many struggle to afford adequate medical care due to financial constraints. Subsidized PhilHealth premiums and customized packages will go a long way in promoting their well-being,” Herrera said.
According to Herrera, the inclusion of these provisions in the 2025 national budget would mark a significant step toward inclusivity and equity.
“The government must translate its commitment to social justice into concrete actions. By including these provisions, we can ensure that solo parents are not left behind in our development agenda,” she said.
As the bicameral conference committee continues deliberations on the final version of the 2025 budget, Herrera expressed optimism that her colleagues in both chambers of Congress would support these critical measures.
“These proposals are not just about addressing gaps in our social welfare programs. They are about acknowledging the resilience of solo parents and empowering them to provide better futures for their families,” Herrera concluded.
