Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
GRANTING MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS LEAVE TO ALL EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE SECTORS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In recent years, the country has made huge strides in affirming the importance of a person’s 
mental health and the rights of Filipinos to access mental health services. In 2018, the legislature 
has passed Republic Act No. 11036, or the Mental Health Act which aimed to develop and establish 
comprehensive, integrated effects, and efficient national mental health care system responsive 
to the psychiatric, neurologic, and psychosocial needs of the Filipino people.  
Earlier this year, the Department of Labor and Employment also issued the “Guidelines for the 
Implementation of Mental Health Workplace Policies and Programs for the Private Sector” which 
aimed to safeguard the worker and assist them in issues concerning their mental health.  
Whilst these efforts are commendable, this Representation believes that more could be done in 
the spirit of raising mental health awareness and ensuring the mental wellness of Filipino workers. 
This proposed measure aims to grant all employees, both from the private and public sectors, a 
mental health wellness leave of five days with full pay. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 14, 2022
5:57 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
GRANTING MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS LEAVE TO ALL EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE SECTORS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Mental Health Leave Act.” 
SEC. 2. Notwithstanding any law, rules, and regulations to the contrary, all employees of the 
private and public sectors are entitled to a mental health wellness leave of five (5) days with full 
pay.  
For purposes of this Act, mental health wellness leave refers to the benefit granted to employees 
of the private and public sectors, allowing the said employees not to report for work for five (5) 
days but continue to earn compensation, therefore, on the condition that the employees will 
participate in mental health wellness activities offered by their respective employers.  
SEC. 3. Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and 
Employment, the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, and the Secretary of Health shall 
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of 
this Act.  
SEC. 4. Any corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association, and entity found violating Sections 
2, 3, and 4 of this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder shall be punished by 
a fine not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).  
If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association, or entity, 
the penalty of imprisonment of not less than thirty (30) days nor more than six (6) months in 
addition to the fine mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be imposed on the entity's 
responsible officers, such as the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, general 
manager, managing director or partner directly responsible therefor.  
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SEC. 5. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to reduce any existing benefits of any form granted 
under existing laws, decrees, executive orders, or collective bargaining agreement or policy 
between the employer and employee.  
SEC. 6. All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or 
a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,