Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6500
Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
EXTENDING THE PATERNITY LEAVE FROM SEVEN (7) TO FIFTEEN (15) DAYS
WITH FULL PAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 2 AND 3 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8187, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PATERNITY LEAVE
ACT OF 1996”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The presence of both parents is important in the formative stages of an infant's
development. The role of child rearing cannot be left to the mother alone and thus it is essential
for the father to fulfill his responsibilities as well. Dividing the responsibilities between the
husband and the wife balances the freedoms afforded by both. Extending the paternity leave will
help in the development of the child while also making sure that the married individual both
male and female are able to have the same professional opportunities as unmarried individuals

Studies show that fathers who take paternity leave are more likely to take on active roles
in child-care tasks, therefore establishing strong relationships with their children and active
involvement in their lives. Furthermore, sufficient early-child interaction has long term benefits
for the child’s cognitive development. Companies also benefit in providing their employees with
a paternity leave policy as such policies help companies in attracting the best and the brightest
people to their human resource

However, the law limits the benefits of paternity leave to only seven (7) days and to only
the first four (4) deliveries of the wife. This representation finds the limitation unsound. The
father should be granted latitude for caring for his newly born child and his wife to allow him to
effectively discharge his duties as the chief member of the family principally responsible for the
ministration of his family. Seven days are not enough for the complete recuperation of the
mother and the father should be by her side to see that she regains strength for weaning the
infant.

This bill seeks to provide paternity leave to all married employees, regardless of the
nature of employment, and lengthen the leave period to fifteen (15) days. The bill also gives
father-employees an option to extend his leave for fifteen (15) days more without pay. The
paternity leave shall not be deducted from the employee’s annual leave credits.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnest!

“KUYA” JOSEANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO
Representative, First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6500

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
EXTENDING THE PATERNITY LEAVE FROM SEVEN (7) TO FIFTEEN (15) DAYS
WITH FULL PAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 2 AND 3 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8187, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PATERNITY LEAVE
ACT OF 1996”

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in
congress assembled.

SEC. 1. Title — This Act shall be known as the “Paternity Leave Act of 2017”

SEC. 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8187, otherwise known as the “Paternity Leave Act of
1996” is hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any law, rules, and regulations to the
contrary, every married male employee REGARDLESS OF HIS
EMPLOYMENT STATUS in the public and private sectors shall be
entitled to a paternity leave of seven-{7) FIFTEEN WORKING days with
full pay for the-first four-(4)-deliveries ALL DELIVERIES of the legitimate
OR COMMON-LAW spouse with whom he is cohabiting. The male
employee applying for paternity leave shall notify his employer of the
pregnancy of his legitimate spouse and the expected date of such delivery.
‘AN ADDITIONAL FIFTEEN (15) WORKING DAYS LEAVE
WITHOUT PAY, MAY BE AVAILED OF BY THE MALE EMPLOYEE,
PROVIDED HE GIVES DUE NOTICE TO HIS EMPLOYER WITHIN
FIVE (5) DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF HIS ORIGINAL
FIFTEEN (15) DAY PATERNITY LEAVE.

A MALE EMPLOYEE IS CONSIDERED IN COMMON-LAW
RELATIONSHIP IF HE AND HIS SPOUSE ARE LIVING TOGETHER
FOR AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CHILBIRTH OR
MISCARRIAGE AND WITHOUT LEGAL IMPEDIMENT TO MARRY
EACH OTHER DURING THE PERIOD OF THEIR COHABITATION.

For the purpose of this Act, delivery shall include childbirth, or miscarriage,


SEC. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8187 is hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERM. For purpose of this Act, Paternity
Leave refers to the benefits granted to a married male employee allowing
him not to report for work for seven?) FIFTEEN (15) WORKING days.
but continues to earn the compensation therefor, on the condition that his
LEGITIMATE OR COMMON-LAW spouse has delivered a child or
suffered a miscarriage for purposes of enabling him to effectively lend
support to his LEGITIMATE OR COMMON-LAW SPOUSE fe in her
period of recovery and/or in the nursing of the newly-born child.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause ~ All laws, executive orders and issuance, or any part thereof, which
are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause ~ This
Official Gazette or in at I

shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
newspaper of general circulation.