Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

676

House Bill No._?

BILLS AN HOLE Seca

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay ~ Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The benefit of parental leaves (maternity or paternity) in our labor laws has been
considered to be among the best labor legislations we have enacted in Congress. It is beyond
dispute how important leave benefits can be with respect to mothers or fathers who need to
balance their duties as parents and as employees.

At present, Republic Act No. 8187 or the “Paternity Leave Act of 1996” provides that
married male employees, both in the private and public sectors are entitled to a paternity
leave from work for seven (7) days with full pay. However, the law limits the benefits of
paternity leave to only the first four (4) deliveries of the legitimate spouse with whom the
married male employee is cohabiting. I find that there is no sufficient basis to include this
limitation, Furthermore, this bill recognizes the important role a father plays in taking care of
not only his newly born child, but also his wife during her post-delivery condition

This bill, a re-filing of House Bill No. $45 filed by Rep. Lani Mercado — Revilla ,
during the 16" Congress, is being filed in order to improve the bond within the family as it~
helps in strengthening of the bond between spouses, and their children.

Lents ~ Valtar
EMMELINE Y. AGLIPAY - VILLAR
Representative, DIWA Party-list

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._§ 76

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay — Villar

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 2 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.887,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PATERNITY LEAVE
ACT OF 1996"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8187, otherwise known as the
Paternity Leave Act of 1996, ishereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 2. Notwithstanding any law, rules and regulations to the
contrary, every married male employee in the private and public sectors
shall be entitled to a paternity leave of seven (7) days with full pay for
the [first four (4) deliveries} DELIVERY of the legitimate 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.

For purposes of this Act, delivery shall include childbirth or any
miscarriage”

SECTION 2. Separability Clause. —If for any reason any section or provision
of this Act is declared unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. -Any laws decrees, or rules and regulations
which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby
amended or repealed.

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect, upon its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, .

Approved,

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