NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S. No. 707
Senate
12 JUL18 PI '25
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
GRANTING BEREAVEMENT LEAVE OF TEN (10) DAYS WITH FULL PAY TO 
ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The loss of a family member is devastating. It carries an immeasurably heavy 
emotional, psychological, and physical toll upon the bereaved. During this period, 
the mourner becomes crippled emotionally and drained mentally for days, unable to 
function normally. In some cases, it takes years to fully recover from such a loss.
Unfortunately, the demands of work and everyday life do not give mourners 
adequate time to cope with their loss. Companies have the discretion on whether or 
not to provide a bereavement leave. Some of them will grant 3 to 5 days of leave 
from work- a terribly insufficient length of time to attend to the details of a wake 
and burial, much less to properly mourn a loss. More often, the time taken to mourn 
a loss is simply deducted from the leave benefits provided by a company, usually 
with a corresponding salary deduction.
This measure proposes a simple remedy - the granting of a mandatory 10-day 
bereavement leave with pay to support employees in the public and private sectors 
who recently lost an immediate family member. In availing of said leave, the worker 
is also assured of non-diminution of existing benefits and security of tenure.


In view of the foregoing, the speedy approval of this measure is eagerly
sought.
^ Jf GRACE POE
/ ^


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
M Senate
of tijf
*22 JUL 18 PI 45
SEN 
S. No
■RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
GRANTING BEREAVEMENT LEAVE OF TEN (10) DAYS WITH FULL PAY TO 
ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 'Bereavement Leave
Act"
Sec. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The State affirms that the Filipino family 
is the foundation of the nation and recognizes that the death of an immediate family 
member bears a significant physical, emotional and psychological burden upon a 
family member. A bereavement leave benefit system is hereby institutionalized to 
support employees in the public and private sectors who have recently lost an 
immediate family member, and give their family time to mourn together and share 
the emotional and material burden In the interment of the departed.
Sec. 3. Bereavement Leave. - Under this Act, employees in the private and 
public sectors shall be entitled to a bereavement leave of ten (10) days with full pay 
following the death of an employee's Immediate family member in order to grieve, 
attend to or make arrangements for the funeral.
For the purpose of this Act, an Immediate family member refers to the 
employee's spouse, parent or child, brother or sister.


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Sec. 4. Non-diminution of Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
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reduce existing benefits granted under existing laws, decrees, executive orders, or
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any contract, agreement, or policy between the employer and employee.
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Sec. 5. Security of Tenure. - Employees In the public and private sectors who
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avail of the bereavement leave provided under this Act shall be assured of security
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of tenure. Availment of the leave shall not be used as reason for misconduct,
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demotion, or termination In employment, or for any form of unsatisfactory
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performance.
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Sec. 6. Penalties. - Any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership,
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association, or entity found violating this act or the rules and regulations
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promulgated thereunder shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Twenty-thousand
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pesos (Php 20,000) or imprisonment of fifteen (15) days to one (1) month.
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If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, partnership,
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association or any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the
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entity's responsible officers, including but not limited to, the president, vice
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president, chief executive officer general manager, managing director or partner
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directly responsible therefor.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Labor and
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Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), for the private sector
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and public sector respectively, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations of this
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act within thirty (30) days of Its effectivlty.
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part, section or provision
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of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected
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thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations and
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other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
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are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Republic Act No. 1161, as amended. Is
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further amended accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,