Lawmakers want parents not providing child support be jailed, fined

Proposals to impose stiffer penalties against parents who neglect their children have once again lobbied at the table, this time also to accord single parents the necessary assistance.

Lawmakers Paul Daza and Erwin Tulfo on Sunday combined efforts to push for the passage of the proposed Child Support Bill (House Bill 44) and An Act Punishing the Willful Failure to Pay Paternal Child Support (HB 8987 that aims to safeguard not only children but also solo parents in holding the other "deadbeat" parent accountable for failing to provide financial obligations towards the child regardless whether they are legitimate or illegitimate.

The lawmakers want the two bills to merge via the "Anti-Balasubas Bill."

The call was made following a policy forum on Friday, wherein Daza, Tulfo, with a group of single parents, convened to discuss strategies for aiding parents in their efforts to provide for their children. This will be followed by consultation with various sectors to ensure that the proposed law is well-crafted and that lone parents are properly protected.

The "Anti-Balasubas Bill," intends to provide parents assistance in finding employment so they can provide financial support to their children.

Daza's HB 44 will obligate separated parents to provide their children with no lower than P6,00 monthly support, while Tulfo's HB 8987 suggests that the financial support should be set at 10 percent of an individual's salary, with a minimum threshold of P6,000.

Noncompliance with such provision requirements may lead to a maximum prison sentence of 12 years and a penalty ranging from P100,000 to P300,000.

"We are working on this and continually holding consultations to refine this law, and we want to ensure the protection of solo parents and their children," Tufo said.

Both Daza and Tulfo believe that the Anti-Balasubas Bill will further safeguard children abandoned by their parents.

The country is currently assisting single parents by providing benefits such as monthly allowance determined by one's earnings, discounts for certain goods for feeding children, and exemption from the value-added tax for specific purchases under the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 (RA 8972).

The law was amended by enacting the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act (RA 11861) signed on 4 June 2022, granting more benefits to solo parents.