EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
978
•OfJitf o( tijf ftrcretarp
•19 
AUG 28 
A lO S l
RECi:L\D0Y
Introduced by Senator MANUEL “LITO” M. LAPID
AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL LEAVES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 
PROVIDING PARAMETERS THEREFOR, AND AMENDING FOR SUCH 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI­
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ACT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Spousal violence remains in high figures in the Philippines. Based on the 
preliminary results of the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 
conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, one in four married women aged 15- 
49 experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence1. But the burden that victims 
of domestic violence bear does not end upon emancipating themselves from their 
abusive partners. Victims must overcome legal, medical, social, and financial hurdles 
in order to be fully independent and self-sufficient. In consideration of these needs, 
the Anti-Violence against Women and Children (VAWC) Act provides for ten (10) days 
paid leave from work for victims of abuse to afford them an opportunity to pursue legal 
proceedings, relocate their residence, care for their children, or attend counseling 
sessions.
However, in the case of legai proceedings aione, there may be a need to go to 
court once a month. The same can be said for counseling and therapy that needs to 
be regular in order to be effective. Add to this the similar needs and frequency of 
appointments for the minor children of women who have also suffered domestic
1 https://psa.gov.ph/content/one-four-women-have-ever-experienced-spousal-violence-preliminary-resuIts-
2017-nationai


violence. Considering these circumstances, the minimum ten (10) days of leave 
afforded to victims of domestic violence would be grossly insufficient.
Thus, the proposed measure increases the number of minimum leaves 
afforded to victims of domestic violence into twenty (20) days. While the VAWC Act 
allows extension of the 10 days presently provided under law, such extension would 
have to be upon approval and determination of the court.
This bill proposes that the minimum number of leaves needed by victims of 
domestic violence would be available to them immediately upon court determination 
that they are indeed suffering from domestic abuse - as opposed to the need to further 
establish and justify the need for more than 10 days leave. This bill likewise ensures 
that the number of leaves may be allocated throughout the entire period of the legal 
proceedings and/or medical treatment, counselling or therapy. In this regard, this 
piece of legislation hopes to empower victims of domestic abuse to recover from the 
trauma of their past by helping them put in order their medical, legal, and domestic
needs.
MA
L “ L ftS ” M. LAP
Senator
r


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
of tiK fercretarp
SENATE 
S. No. 
9 *7 8
'19 
AUG 28 AlO 51
RECLIV' 0 5'/
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid * 1 1
AN ACT
GRANTING ADDITIONAL LEAVES FOR VICTIM S OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 
PROVIDING PARAMETERS THEREFOR, AND AMENDING FOR SUCH 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9262, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE A N TI­
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ACT
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Additional Leaves for
2 
Victims o f Domestic Violence Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - The State values the dignity of women and
4 
children and guarantees full respect for human rights. The State further recognizes
5 
the need to protect the family and its members, particularly women and children,
6 
from violence and threats to their personal safety and security. Towards this end,
7 
the State shall exert efforts to aid victims of domestic violence to recover from the
8 
trauma thereof, be it for the purpose of putting in order medical, legal, or domestic
9 
needs.
10 
Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  For the purpose of this Act:
11 
a) "Domestic Vioiencd' shali refer to any act or acts of abuse as defined in
12 
Section 3 of Repubiic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the" Anti-Violence
13 
Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004";
14
15 
b) "Eligible Employed' 
shall refer to an individual who (1) is a 
victim of
16 
domestic violence or is the parent of a minor child who is a victim of domestic
17 
violence; and (2) has been employed for at least six (6) months by the
18 
employer to whom a request for leave under this Act is directed.
19


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
c) "Employei1' shall refer to the national or local government or any of its or 
instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations, 
as well as private employers or entities that employ at least fifteen (15) 
persons each work day for twenty (20) or more weeks within a given calendar 
year;
d) "Certification from Proper Authorities' shall refer to any of the following 
insofar as the same can establish that the employee is a victim of domestic 
violence:
1) Certification from the court wherein legal proceedings have been 
initiated that the employee or her minor child is involved in legal 
proceedings related to domestic violence;
2) Certification from a competent medical professional that the employee 
or her minor child needs medical attention, counseling, or therapy in 
relation to domestic violence committed against them; or
3) Certification from law enforcement agencies or anti-domestic violence 
advocacy groups or help desks that the victim and/or her minor 
children are victims of domestic violence.
Sec. 4. Amendment to Republic Act No. 9262. - Section 43 of Republic Act No. 
9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act 
of 2004, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SECTION 43. Entitled to Leave. - Victims under this Act shall 
be entitled to take a paid leave of absence up to [ten (10)] AN
AGGREGATE 
OF 
TWENTY 
(2 0 ) 
DAYS 
UNTIL 
THE 
TERMINATION 
OF 
LEGAL 
PROCEEDINGS, 
AND/O R 
MEDICAL TREATMENT, COUNSELING OR THERAPY in
addition to other paid leaves under the Labor Code and Civil 
Service Rules and Regulations, extendible when the necessity 
arises as specified in the protection order.
ELIGIBLE 
EMPLOYEES 
MAY 
CLAIM 
SUCH 
ALLOWABLE LEAVES, 
UPON 
SUBMISSION 
OF 
A 
CERTIFICATION 
FROM PROPER AUTHORITIES AND 
AFTER GIVING DUE NOTICE TO THEIR 
EMPLOYER,
FOR 
MEDICAL 
TREATMENT, 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, 
RELOCATION, 
COUNSELING, 
OR THERAPY RELATED 
TO 
SUCH 
DOMESTIC 
VIOLENCE, 
OR 
TO 
EXTEND 
ASSISTANCE 
TO 
THEIR 
MINOR 
CHILDREN 
FOR 
SUCH PURPOSES.
39
XXX.


1 
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
- 
The Secretaries of the
2 
Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and
3 
Employment shall issue such rules and regulations necessary for the proper
4 
implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.
5 
Sec. 6. 
Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act is declared
6 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions that are not affected thereby shall
7 
continue to be in full force and effect.
8 
Sec. 7. Repealing Cause. All laws, orders, rules and regulations, or parts
9 
thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified or
10 
repealed accordingly.
11 
Sec. 8. Effectivity Cause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
12 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
13 
circulation.
14
Approved,