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

SEVENPEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No.8573

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

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 that leave benefits are important 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. This limitation has no sufficient basis as a father with more than four
children still needs to attend to all of his newborn child and his wife. 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. 545 filed by Rep. Lani Mercado — Revilla during
the 16 Congress, is re-filed by the undersigned for DIWA Party-list in order to improve the
bond within the family as it helps in strengthening of the bond between spouses, and their
children.

ITO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Party-list

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8573

House Bill No.

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 2 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.887,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PATERNITY LEAVE
ACT OF 996"

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 Actof 1996, ishereby amended toread 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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