Parents who fail to provide support to their children may face a minimum of two years in prison and a fine of no less than P100,000.

Under the proposed House Bill 4807, "deadbeat" parents or those who are found to have "deliberately" and "repeatedly" neglected their obligation will be sentenced to two to four years in prison, depending on the court's discretion, and fined between P100,000 and P300,000.

The measure, meanwhile, would allow probation for first-time offenders.

Fathers, on the other hand, would face a harsher penalty considering that men are more prone to poor parenting practices such as withholding child support, according to Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, the bill's author.

"Solo parents already have the responsibility of taking care of their kids on their own. They should not be burdened with the problem of compelling their irresponsible and negligent ex-partners to pay child support," Duterte said, citing a World Health Organization study that found that approximately 15 million Filipinos, mostly women, are single parents.

"This proposed law aims to ensure that their kids have sufficient support for their subsistence and other essential needs," Duterte added.