Jamaine Punzalan

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782003533015jochen-van-wylick-swvt-zPKW50-unsplash.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photo by Jochen van Wylick on Unsplash</span></span></span></div><p>Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has filed a proposed measure seeking to expand paternity leave benefits for fathers to a total of 105 days from the current seven days. </p><p>Under the proposed Paternity and Parental Leave Act (PAPA Leave Act), paid paternity leave would be increased 90 continuous days. An additional 15 days of paid leave may also be availed within one year from childbirth. </p><p>“Dati, maaaring okay pa ‘yan (seven-day paid leave) kasi parang ang pumasok sa mindset natin noon, ang mga tatay yung kumikita, ang mga nanay ang nasa tahanan. Pero iba na rin ang panahon ngayon at kinakailangan maitapat natin yung paternity leave at yung maternity leave dahil lumalabas sa mga pag-aaral na malaki rin ang papel ng tatay sa mga bata, pagdating sa child development,” Diokno said. </p><p>“Kaya naisip namin na maganda na maisama na natin at mabigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga tatay para maalagaan din nila ang kanilang mga anak habang nasa crucial child development age pa,” he told DZMM. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J5QoVbFUaGk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The PAPA Leave Act will cover married and unmarried fathers, Diokno said. </p><p>But he warned that fathers who fail to use the paid leave to provide support for their family could face charges. </p><p>“May kalakip din itong parusa sa mga tatay na gagamit nitong paternity leave, pero hindi naman tutulong sa nanay at anak. Kapag nangyari ito ay maaari sila makasuhan sa ilalim ng VAWC law o Violence Against Women and Children,” he said.</p>

<p>Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has filed a proposed measure seeking to expand paternity leave benefits for fathers to a total of 105 days from the current seven days.</p>

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno has filed a proposed measure seeking to expand paternity leave benefits for fathers to a total of 105 days from the current seven days.

Diokno bill seeks to expand paid paternity leave

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Diokno bill seeks to expand paid paternity leave

ABS-CBN News

Published June 21, 2026 09:11 AM PHT

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Updated June 21, 2026 09:32 AM PHT

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Chel Diokno

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