[SIZE=3]Solo Flight[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](The Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]First of all, no, this is not about being a solo parent when the spouse is working overseas. And, generally, this law only covers those with an income level equal to or below the poverty line. Plus, the law covers only the following solo parents:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3](a)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]A woman who gives birth as a result of rape and other crimes against chastity, even without the offender’s final conviction, provided she keeps and raises the child;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](b)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Parent left alone with parental responsibility due to death of spouse;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](c)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Parent left alone with parental responsibility while the spouse is detained or is serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at least 1 year;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](d)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Parent left alone with parental responsibility due to physical and/or mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a public medical practitioner;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](e)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Parent left alone with parental responsibility due to legal separation or de facto separation from spouse for at least 1 year, as long as he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](f)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Parent left alone with parental responsibility due to declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage as decreed by a court or by a church as long as he/she is entrusted with the custody of the children;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](g)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Parent left alone with parental responsibility due to abandonment of spouse for at least 1 year;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](h)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Unmarried parent who has preferred to keep and rear her/his child/children instead of having others care for them or give them up to a welfare institution;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](i)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Any other person who solely provides parental care and support to a child/children, provided he/she is duly licensed by the DSWD as a foster parent or is a court-appointed legal guardian;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3](j)[/SIZE] [SIZE=3]Any family member who assumes the responsibility of head of family as a result of the death, abandonment, disappearance or prolonged absence of the parents or solo parent. This family member includes any relative by consanguinity up to the 4th civil degree. This includes the uncle/aunt, grandfather/grandmother, nephew/niece and cousin. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Read on from The Legally Inclined blog at http://thelegallyinclined.wordpress.com. Feel free to forward the link to your friends and colleagues. And leave some feedback if you can.[/SIZE]
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 8972.