Jacaranda Cafe » rights

Single Blessedness (part 4)

jhanok — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:04:06 +0000

7. Other benefits. There are various benefits that especially target solo parents that are below the poverty threshold as set by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). It must be stressed that these benefits are in the nature of demandable rights and not privileges which can be withheld anytime. These benefits include:
a. Education. Under the Act, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are mandated to provide scholarship programs to qualified solo parents and their children in basic, tertiary and technical skills education.
b. Housing. Solo parents may also avail of housing benefits. Under the Act, they shall be given allocation in government housing projects and shall be provided with liberal terms of payment.
c. Medical. Solo parents can avail of the comprehensive health care program developed by the Department of Health (DOH). It will be implemented by the DOH through their government units through their provincial, district, city, or municipal hospitals and rural health units.

Single Blessedness (part 3)

jhanok — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:48:12 +0000

4. Parental Leave. In addition to existing leave previldges under the law (Maternity leave, paternity leave, service incentive leave, etc.) a solo parent who has rendered service for at least one year is entitled to a parental leave of not more than seven working days per year. If you need to ccarry out your parental duties where your physical appearance is needed (e.g. meet with your child’s school principal or bring your child to the hospital, then you are entitled tp parental leave.
5. Flexible work schedule a flexible work schedule means that the solo parent has the right to “vary his/her arrival and departure without affecting the core work hours as defined by the employer..” however, on certain meritorious grounds, the employer may request exemption from providing a flexible work schedule to solo parents from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
6. Equality in the workplace. The Solo Parent’s Welfare Act of 2000 prohibits an employer from discriminating ay solo parent with respect to terms and conditions of employment on account of his/her status. But the enforcement of this right is put to doubt in view of the absence of penal clause in the law, i.e. fine or imprisonment if the employer violates it. Thus, employers found to be committing discrimination may only pay civil damages.

Single Blessedness (part 2)

jhanok — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:45:01 +0000

RIGHTS AND BENEFITS
Aside from the Family Code, the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000, a fairly landmark legislation, confers some rights and benefits on single moms who have qualified as solo parents. The following is a list of the rights and benefits of single moms compiled from both:
1. Child custody. Children below seven years old shall not be separated from their mother, unless the court finds compelling proof to grant custody to the father.
2. Child Support single moms can demand support for her child/children from the father. Article 195 of the Family Code states that parents are obliged to support their illegitimate children.
3. Surname illegitimate children as a rule shall use the surname of the mother,. However, with father’s acknowledgement, the mom can opt to name her child using the father’s surname.

Single Blessedness (part 1)

jhanok — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:52:00 +0000

Introduction
Perhaps no person in the country could better exemplify the extraordinary strengths and capabilities of single Moms than the later former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino. While she was widely credited for bringing back democracy in our land, she was also much praised for single-handedly raising her children during the time when her late husband Ninoy was incarcerated for eight years in Fort Bonifacio. With Sheer combination of guts and faith, single moms can, like Cory did, take control of their situation- especially so when they have the law on their side.

WHO ARE SINGLE MOMS?
To clarify, “single mom” is not a legal term. Under the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000, single moms are legally called “solo parents”. Solo Parents primarily because they have “responsibility of parenthood,” meaning they have a child or dependent under care.