MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera urged her fellow lawmakers to support provisions in the2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) enhancing support for solo parents.'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 in a statement, as the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberated on the proposed national budget.Herrera added that as a vulnerable sector, single parents need equitable access to government benefits.Among the GAA provisions beneficial to solo parents include a seven-day paid parental leave for job order and contractual government employees, priority access to free higher education for dependents, and PhilHealth coverage with subsidized premiums.Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTEWhile Republic Act 11861, or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, has a provision for parental leave, it does not explicitly include the most vulnerable sectors.'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 said.The priority access to free higher education for children of solo parents under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education was mandated under Section 9 of Republic Act 11861. It 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.'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' she added.
