FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. l'rillunes IV 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The vital role of women in society and economy has long been recognized in our country. 
The Philippine Constitution under Art. 11, Sec. 14 states that the State shall recognize the 
role of women in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the 
law of men and women. Also, Art. XIII, Sec. 14 of our Constitution, provides that the 
State shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful working conditions,, 
taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will 
enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the 
nation. 
Just recently, UNICEF cited the Philippines' Mortality Rate wherein thirty two (32) 
Filipino children (per 1,000 live births) die before the age of five and the Philippines 
ranked 86' among 190 countries with the highest under-five mortality rate. The report 
also cited several recommendations that would help reduce our country's mortality rate 
among which is access to exclusive breastfeeding for a long period of time'. WHO even 
recognizes breastfeeding as an ideal way of roviding young infants with the nutrients 
they need for healthy growth and developmen l!. 
This recognizes maternity as a vital social function played by women and protects the 
rights of working women and their infants to proper health care by increasing the 
maternity leave of working women from sixty (60) days or eight (8) weeks to one 
hundred twenty (120) days or sixteen (16) weeks thereby allowing mothers to breastfeed 
their child for at least four (4) months. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought 
A ~ T O ~ I O  
"SONNY" F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
Data retrieved from http://asiaiiiournaI worduress.com/200S/03/17/unicef-cites-ru-mo~alitv-rate/ 
on May 
Data retrieved froin htto://www.who.int/totooics/breastfeedindei~ 
on May 22, 2008. 
22, 2008. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
S. NO. 2383 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
INCREASING MATERNITY LEAVE BENEFITS FROM SIXTY (60) DAYS TO 
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS OR FOUR MONTHS, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE, P.D. 442, AS AMENDED BY RA. 7322 
Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 133 of Presidential Decree (P.D.) 442, as amended by R.A. 
7322, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“ART. 133. Maternity Leave Benefits, 
(a) 
Every employer shall grant to any pregnant woman employee, who has rendered 
an aggregate service of at least six (6) months for the last twelve (12) months, maternity 
leave of at least two (2) weeks prior to the expected date of delivery and another [four 
(4)] FOURTEEN WEEKS after normal OR CAESARIAN DELIVERY, with full pay 
based on her regular or average weekly wages.” 
SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, order, rules and regulations, and other issuances or 
parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in any two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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