There’s a bill filed at the House of Representatives. The bill (which refers to a proposed law, not a paper akin to a statement of account) proposes an extension of the legally-mandated maternity leave. House Bill 3973 is a bill seeking to increase “maternity leave benefits from 60 days to 120 days or four months.”
Under the existing law, maternity leave with pay is for a period of sixty (60) calendar days in cases of normal delivery, abortion or miscarriage. The period of maternity leave is longer in case of caesarian delivery: seventy-eight (78) calendar days. Under the proposed law, the existing 60 days will be extended to 120 days. Good news for mothers and, indirectly, us Pinoy Dads. Not-so-good news for employers, maybe.
But that’s not really the reason why this post is written (but if you really want to argue, please go to this related post). We all know there are legitimate reasons why maternity leave is longer than paternity leave (yes, brother, there’s a paternity leave). Mothers, after all, are the ones who give birth, and we Pinoy Dads should have no reason to complain about our not-so-great paternity leave of only 7 days (hey, we fathers would also want to bond with our offspring).
Ok, ok, you want to complain. I tell you, however, you should not be comparing the number of days. Focus on this instead: in maternity leave, the law doesn’t make a distinction as to the relationship of the parents. A woman is entitled to maternity leave whether she’s single or married. Even a paramour, if she wants to get “discovered” by the legitimate wife, is covered by the law (no pun intended).
Not so with paternity leave. It applies ONLY to MARRIED men. Not only that. It applies only if the one giving birth is a Pinoy Dad’s LEGITIMATE spouse with whom he is COHABITING. So, if you’re not married or if you’re separated, sorry, brother, no paternity leave for you.
Could we create a men’s partylist to improve our 7-day paternity leave? Just kidding. 
Comment by Lloyd
According to our admin-officer, paternity leave was already been removed or not implemented anymore. Are there any amendment that this RA8187 had been cancelled or revoked?
Comment by Fred
Perhaps you could ask your admin-officer for the basis of such assertion, then please let us know what law or issuance is cited. Maybe there’s none after all.