Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
AN ACT 
FOSTERING FAMILY BONDING AND CARE THROUGH THE GRANTING OF 
LEAVES TO EMPLOYEES OF THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Family is the cornerstone of our society, and its well-being is integral to 
the prosperity and strength of our nation. Through family bonds, we derive our 
sense of belonging, love, and support. However, in today's fast-paced and 
demanding world, the challenge of striking a balance between work 
responsibilities and family life has become increasingly complex. In recognition 
of this challenge and the overarching need to support and nurture our families, 
we propose the "Family Bonding and Care Leaves Act." 
The Filipino family is the basic unit of our society, and it plays a pivotal 
role in shaping the values and character of our citizens. While work is 
undoubtedly essential, so is the ability to be present for significant family events 
and provide care during times of need. Unfortunately, the demands of the 
modern workplace often place individuals in a situation where they must choose 
between their professional duties and their familial obligations. This bill seeks to 
address this dilemma by providing employees in both the private and public 
sectors the flexibility to prioritize family when it matters most. 
The proposed "Family Bonding and Care Leaves Act" is founded on a 
bedrock of principles deeply embedded in our culture and enshrined in 
international conventions. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human 
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Rights, to which the Philippines is a signatory, recognizes the family as the 
natural and fundamental unit of society and emphasizes the importance of 
family protection and support.1 Additionally, the Philippine Constitution itself 
upholds the sanctity of family life and promotes the welfare of its members.2 
This bill is not just a mere legislative endeavor. It is a clear reflection of 
our strong and indubitable commitment to uphold the rights and well-being of 
every Filipino family. By enabling all employees to participate in significant 
family events and to provide much-needed care and support during times of 
need, we affirm our dedication to these principles. 
This bill supports the family institution and strengthens the workforce by 
promoting a healthy work-life balance. Employees who are able to take time off 
for family events and emergencies return to their jobs with renewed dedication 
and focus. Moreover, it recognizes the diverse needs of Filipino families, 
encompassing everything from joyous celebrations to times of grief and crisis. 
In addition, this legislation takes a significant step forward by removing 
the discrimination against nonmarital children. 
This bill envisions a more compassionate and family-oriented Philippines. 
The passage of this bill would ensure a brighter future for all Filipino families and 
our nation — fostering family bonding and care, one leave at a time. 
In light of the preceding, this bill’s approval is fervently sought. 
LORDAN G. SUAN 
Cagayan de Oro City – 1st District 
1 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, General Assembly Resolution No. 217A, Article 16, Paragraph 3 
(1948) (United Nations). https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights 
2 The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Article XV (1987) (Philippines). 
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-
1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-xv/ 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
1 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative LORDAN G. SUAN 
AN ACT 
FOSTERING FAMILY BONDING AND CARE THROUGH THE GRANTING OF 
LEAVES TO EMPLOYEES OF THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Family Bonding 
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and Care Leaves Act.” 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the importance of 
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family bonding and care in building strong and resilient families. In pursuit of this 
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policy, this Act seeks to grant leaves to employees to enable them to participate 
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in significant family events and to provide care and support during times of need. 
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SECTION 3. Leaves for Family Bonding and Care. — The following leaves 
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shall be granted to employees in the private and public sectors to promote family 
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bonding and care: 
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(a) Family Events Leave. — Employees shall be entitled to a leave of not
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more than three (3) days every year for the following family events: 
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1. birthday of immediate family members;
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2. wedding and Wedding Anniversary;
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3. honeymoon; and
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4. other similar events.
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(b) School Events Leave. — Employees shall be entitled to a leave of not 
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more than five (5) days every year for the following school events of their marital 
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and nonmarital children: 
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1. enrollment; 
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2. graduation; 
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3. awarding ceremonies; 
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4. parent-teacher conference/meeting; and 
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5. other similar events. 
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(c) Burial and Bereavement Leave. — Employees shall be entitled to a leave 
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of up to five (5) days with pay in the case of the death of a spouse, parent, child, 
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or sibling. 
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(d) Home Relocation Leave. — Employees shall be entitled to a leave of one 
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(1) day with pay upon submission of a certification from the Barangay confirming 
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the need for home relocation. 
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(e) Emergency Leave. — Employees shall be entitled to a leave of up to 
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three (3) days with pay in the event of accidents, disasters, calamities or other 
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emergencies that directly affect their immediate family. 
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(f) Hospitalization Leave. — Employees shall be entitled to a leave of up to 
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five (5) days with pay to care for immediate family members during 
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hospitalization. 
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(g) Government Transactions Leave. — Employees shall be entitled to a 
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leave of up to one (1) day without pay for the purpose of attending to necessary 
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government transactions related to their immediate family. 
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(h) Paternity Leave. — Paternity leave of not more than eight (8) days with 
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full pay shall be granted to male employees in the private and public sector for 
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the first four (4) deliveries and without pay for the succeeding deliveries of their 
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marital and nonmarital children. 
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(i) Parental Leave. — In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, a 
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forfeitable and noncumulative parental leave of not more than ten (10) working 
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days every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee and not more than 
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five (5) days to any non-solo parent employee who has rendered service of at 
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least one (1) year. 
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SECTION 4. Limitation on Certain Leaves. — The total number of days taken 
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for leaves under paragraphs (a), (b) and (g) of Section 3 of this Act shall not 
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exceed five (5) days per year. 
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SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days 
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from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Labor and Employment and 
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the Civil Service Commission shall jointly promulgate the necessary rules and 
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regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — Any portion or provisions of this Act that 
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may be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying 
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other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or 
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provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 8187 is hereby repealed.  
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All other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, memoranda, 
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circulars, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the 
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Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette, at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation, or a website provided for by law.
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Approved,