General information, not legal advice. This answer was written by the PhilippineLaws team from the law it cites and checked for accuracy to the best of our knowledge, last on Sep 25, 2026. It has not been reviewed by a lawyer. Read the cited law yourself, and for your own situation talk to a lawyer or the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
What benefits, discounts, and leave privileges am I entitled to as a registered Solo Parent under RA 11861?
Under RA 11861 (Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act), registered solo parents earning minimum wage or less are entitled to a ₱1,000 monthly cash subsidy from their LGU, 7 days of paid parental leave annually after 6 months of employment, a 10% discount plus VAT exemption on infant milk, food, diapers, and medicines for children up to 6 years old, and scholarship priority for their children.
Illustrated Legal Brief
Full Plate- ₱1,000 / mo
LGU Monthly Cash Subsidy
For solo parents earning minimum wage and below, disbursed by the local government.
- 10% + VAT Free
Infant Goods Discount
Milk, baby food, diapers, and medicines for children up to 6 years of age.
- 7 Days Paid
Annual Parental Leave
Paid leave from work after completing at least 6 months of employment.
- Priority
Education & Housing
Automatic prioritization in CHED/TESDA scholarship slots and government housing programs.
Why
Republic Act No. 11861 expanded the definition of a solo parent and significantly enhanced welfare benefits originally granted under RA 8972. A solo parent is any individual who falls under categories such as: giving birth as a consequence of rape; death of a spouse; detention or criminal sentence of spouse for at least 3 months; physical or mental incapacity; legal separation or de facto separation for at least 6 months; declaration of nullity or annulment; abandonment by a spouse for at least 6 months; or an unmarried mother or father who keeps and rears their child.
A key monetary enhancement is the monthly cash subsidy of ₱1,000 per solo parent who earns minimum wage and below, funded and distributed by the City or Municipal Government through the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO).
For children from birth up to 6 years of age, solo parents earning less than ₱250,000 annually receive a 10% discount and value-added tax (VAT) exemption on purchases of infant milk, food, micronutrient supplements, sanitary diapers, and prescribed medicines.
In the workplace, an employee who has rendered at least six months of service is entitled to 7 working days of paid Parental Leave each year. This leave is non-cumulative and non-convertible to cash, and employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees on account of their solo parent status.
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