Republic of the Philippines ES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

Time.
2. by,

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4620

REC,
Dare. sort 6 2019

Introduced by Representative Romulo “Kid” Pefia, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to grant mental health wellness leave to all employees
and integrate mental health awareness in the curriculum of all schools.

Section 15, Article II of the Constitution provides that “The State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.”

The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of
well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope
with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Mental health,
therefore, is more than just the presence of psychotic disorder or sickness
but, more importantly, also redounds to a positive condition of ones’ mental
well-being.

In the Philippines, a survey conducted by the Department of Health
showed that among 327 government employees in Metro Manila, 32% were
found to have experienced mental health problems. Among the youth,
depression, anxiety and mood disorders were found to be the most common
(WHO 2004). Almost one per 100 households (0.7%) has a member with
mental disability (DOH-SWS 2004). As early as 2003, intentional self-harm
was already found to be the 9" leading cause of death among 20 to 24-year
old Filipino adults (DOH, 2003). The incidence of suicide in males
increased from 0.20 to 3.59 per 100,000 between 1984 and 2005 while rates
rose from 0.12 to 1.09 per 100,000 in females (Redamiel, Dalida and
Gunnell, 2011).

Seeing these alarming statistics, it is with utmost urgency that the
government should address the problem of mental health. It is therefore
proposed that all employees in the private and public sectors be given a 5-
day mental health wellness leave while all public and private schools must


integrate in their curriculum, mental health awareness. This is to give the
employees and students the opportunity to reassess positively their mental
well-being with the help of professionals.

It is proposed in this bill that the employers will offer mental health
wellness activities that employees shall attend while on leave. All these with
the greatest hope that these employees and students will realize their own
abilities to cope with the normal stresses of life, can work and study
productively and fruitfully and be able to make a good contribution to the
community.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly and earnestly
recommended.

ROMOLO “KID” PENA, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. agen

Introduced by Representative Romulo “Kid” Pefia, Jr.

AN ACT
GRANTING MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS LEAVE TO ALL EMPLOYEES,
AND INTEGRATING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN THE
‘CURRICULUM OF ALL SCHOOLS

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Mental Health Leave and
Awareness Act.”

SEC. 2. Notwithstanding any law, rules and regulations to the contrary, all
employees of the private and public sectors are entitled to a mental health wellness leave
of five (5) days with full pay.

For purposes of this Act, mental health wellness leave refers to the benefit granted
to employees of the private and public sectors, allowing the said employees not to report
for work for five (5) days but continue to earn compensation therefor, on the condition
that the employees will participate in mental health wellness activities offered by their
respective employers.

SEC. 3. A mental health awareness subject shall be integrated in the curriculum
of all schools and educational institutions, whether private or public.

SEC. 4. All public and private schools and educational institutions shall employ

at least one (1) in-house certified guidance counselor or allied professional who is trained


as an authorized mental health practitioner who shall oversee and provide mental health
awareness lectures, programs, activities and counseling services to students.

SEC. 5. Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of
Labor and Employment, the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, the Secretary
of Education, the Chairperson on Higher Education and Secretary of Health shall issue
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of
this Act.

SEC. 6. Any corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association, entity and school
found violating Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder shall be punished by a fine not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00).

If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, partnership,
association, entity and school, the penalty of imprisonment of not less than thirty (30)
days nor more than six (6) months in addition to the fine mentioned in the preceding
paragraph shall be imposed on the entity's responsible officers, such as, the president,
vice-president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing director or partner
directly responsible therefor, and principal.

SEC. 7. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to reduce any benefits of

any form granted under existing laws, decrees, executive orders, or collective bargaining
agreement or policy between the employer and employee.

SEC. 8. All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, issuances, or parts thereof which
are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,