Cayetano thanks Pres. Duterte for signing the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law; says measure recognizes dual role of women as workers and mothers
House Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano hailed the passage of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which provides 105 days of paid maternity leave to Filipino working mothers.
A known advocate for Filipino families and children, Cayetano expressed her gratitude to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for signing the measure, thus giving working mothers more time to recover and to take care of their newborn after giving birth.
“This measure is an acknowledgement of the dual role of women in society: as members of the work force and as mothers,” she stressed.
The principal author and sponsor of expanded maternity bill in the House, Cayetano also led the passage of the original version of the measure in the Senate back when she chaired the *Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality* in the 16th Congress.
The Taguig representative thanked President Duterte for listening to her position on the urgency of enacting the measure for women workers, and for eventually backing the proposal. The President had said during his endorsement of Cayetano at the PDP-Laban kickoff rally in Bulacan last week that he would always listen to the lady lawmaker’s advice in addressing the problems of the country.
Cayetano also acknowledged her colleagues in Congress, particularly House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chairperson Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, and the previous chair, former Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, for paving the way towards the successful passage of the measure.
Cayetano also acknowledged then Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, for heeding and acknowledging the stand of women advocates and relaying this to the President.
“This maternity leave bill was like a baby that’s been waiting to be born. I’ve been working on this for many years, since I was in the Senate,” Cayetano stressed.
Republic Act 7322, or the Act Increasing Maternity Benefits in Favor of Women Workers in the Private Sectors, was passed way back in March 1992. With the passage of the new law after almost 27 years, working mothers can now enjoy an extended maternity leave from 60 to 105 days.
“As a working mother, I have experienced the 60-day maternity leave under the previous law. I know that the additional days will be a great help to hardworking Filipino mothers and their newborns,” Cayetano shared. #
Photo: Deputy Speaker Pia Cayetano with breastfeeding mothers and their babies at the Big Latch On (BLO) held in Cebu in August, 2018.
Leave a Reply