A seminar was held with the Calajoan Women’s Organization on November 24, 2022 to talk about the Expanded Solo Parents Act or Republic Act 11861 and gender sensitivity. Speaker was Noemi P. Padernal, WRCV Finance Officer.
She elaborated on the law that provides benefits and privileges to solo parents and their children, to include the following. First, minimum wage earners solo parents are entitled ₱1,000 monthly cash subsidy provided that they are not recipients of any other cash assistance from other government agencies. They will receive the cash subsidy from their local government unit. Second, solo parents earning less than ₱250,000 per year are exempted from VAT (value-added tax). They can avail 10% discount on baby products such as milk, diapers, vaccines, medical supplies, and other prescribed medicines from birth until the child reaches the age of six.
Third, regardless of employment status, solo parent employees who have rendered services for at least six months are entitled to a yearly noncumulative and forfeitable parental leave of seven days with pay.
Fourth, employers shouldn’t discriminate the employees because of their status as solo parents. They can also arrange a flexible work setup to help the solo parent tend to his or her family’s needs. Fifth, solo parents are granted automatic PhilHealth coverage as long as their premium contributions are up to date and are shared equally by their employers.
Sixth, solo parents will also be prioritized in the selection of new beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program with children in school, provided that their income is within or below the poverty threshold; and the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department.
Padernal also explained how a solo parent can avail of the benefits of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act by accomplishing the requirements to get a Solo Parent ID and booklet from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
After the talk on the Expanded Solo Parents Act, Padernal discussed about gender sensitivity. She emphasized the need to promote gender equality so that women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic participation and decision-making, and the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored. She said that gender sensitivity is the process by which people are made aware of how gender plays a role in life through their treatment of others, that gender sensitivity especially manifests in recognizing privilege and discrimination around gender since women are generally seen as disadvantaged in society. Gender sensitization promotes equality for men and women by allowing men and women to view what is stereotypical of and reasonable for their gender. This means to allow boys to express their emotions, encourage them to be expressive. Involve them in activities like gardening and cooking, and to expose girls to role models of women in business, especially those outside the stereotype, like doctors, scientists and leaders; these role models will help girls to see themselves in professions outside the normal stereotypes.
