Expanded maternity leave is good for fathers, too!

Hontiveros, chair of both Senate Committees on Women and Health, earlier filed Senate Bill 215 or “The Expanded maternity Leave Act” (Pictured) that is meant to increase the maternity leave from 60 to 120 days with an extra 30 days for single mothers for a total of 150 days. (Photo: Senator Risa Hontiveros/ Facebook)

MANILA –Not just mothers, but also fathers are expected to benefit from a measure filed in the Senate that seek to double women’s maternity leave, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Tuesday.

Hontiveros, chair of both Senate Committees on Women and Health, earlier filed Senate Bill 215 or “The Expanded maternity Leave Act” that is meant to increase the maternity leave from 60 to 120 days with an extra 30 days for single mothers for a total of 150 days.

The neophyte senator said her measure also covers the proposed Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which she described as a “Daddy quota” of the bill.

She said that 30 days of the proposed 120-day maternity will be alloted to alternate caregivers (spouse, common-law partner, relative up to the 4th degree of consanguinity) including adoptive parents.

The senator stressed that parenting should be a “collective effort” and pregnancy and child care “is not the responsibility of women alone.”

“Fathers and other alternate caregivers deserve the opportunity to create meaningful memories with their partners as they welcome and nurture their children,” Hontiveros said.

“The idea behind the bill is not only to give expectant mothers ample time to ensure the best possible conditions for a healthy delivery, recovery from childbirth and stronger mother-child bond, it also recognizes the role of fathers, adoptive parents and alternate caregivers, and contribute to a more equal distribution of child care among Filipino families,” she added.