In the Philippines, the role of fathers in the family has never been more important. However, the current paternity leave of seven days is insufficient for fathers to adequately support their families during a critical time of bonding and adjustment. This issue is particularly relevant for many families in the Philippines who struggle with the demands of new parenthood.

By extending paternity leave from 7 days to 14 days, Filipino fathers can be more involved during the early stages of their children's lives and would allow them to not only provide emotional support to their partners but also actively participate in day-to-day newborn care tasks, promoting gender equality within the family. It helps reinforce the idea that parenting is a shared responsibility.

This issue goes beyond just giving dads more days off. It is about how our society still sees parenting as mostly a mother’s responsibility. Because of short paternity leave, many women are left to handle childcare alone even when they are also working. This can hold them back from growing in their careers or force them to leave the workforce entirely. At the same time, many fathers who want to be more involved in parenting do not get the time or support to do so. 

We urge lawmakers to recognize the issues that most modern families struggle with and how crucial the role of the fathers in the household stepping away from the 'provider' ideal. Extending paternity leave is a necessary step towards strengthening Filipino families and promoting a progressive, inclusive society. 

By signing this petition, you are supporting a change that supports families, promotes equality, and acknowledges the invaluable role of fathers in nurturing the next generation. Please join us in making a move to convince our lawmakers to make this much-needed amendment to the current paternity leave policy.

Sincerely,

Healing Haligi MC