Last updated: November 11, 2026

Paternity leave in the Philippines gives eligible fathers 7 working days of paid leave around the birth of a child under RA 8187. This guide explains who qualifies, how the pay works, how a mother can transfer some of her maternity leave to the father, and what the pending expansion bills would change.

Key Takeaways
  • Paternity leave is 7 working days with full pay under RA 8187 (Paternity Leave Act of 1996).
  • It covers legally married male employees living with their spouse, for the first four deliveries of that spouse.
  • The mother can allocate up to 7 of her 105 maternity leave days to the father, married or not, under RA 11210.
  • Bills that would expand paternity leave to 105 days (HB 9891) or 30 days (HB 4430) have been filed but are not law as of November 11, 2026.

Paternity Leave Calculator (Philippines)

Enter the monthly salary to estimate the basic pay for the 7 paternity leave days. You can change the number of days.

Daily rate–
Paternity leave pay–
Estimate of basic pay for the leave days. The daily rate is the monthly salary multiplied by 12 and divided by the days-per-year factor. Not legal advice.

Who Qualifies for Paternity Leave?

Under the Paternity Leave Act (RA 8187), a legally married male employee who lives with his spouse gets 7 working days of paternity leave with full pay for each of the first four deliveries of that spouse. Guides commonly treat a miscarriage as a delivery for this purpose. RA 8187 alone does not cover unmarried fathers or common-law partners.

How Much Is Paternity Leave Pay?

The leave is paid at the regular daily rate, so the pay is simply the daily rate multiplied by the leave days. For an employee earning ₱25,000 a month on a 313-day factor, the daily rate is ₱958.47 and 7 days of paternity leave is worth ₱6,709.27. The employer pays this base leave directly.

Can the Mother Transfer Maternity Leave to the Father?

Yes. Under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (RA 11210), the mother can allocate up to 7 of her 105 maternity leave days to the child’s father, whether or not they are married. Combined with the 7 days under RA 8187, a married father may be able to take up to 14 days. Transferred days come out of the mother’s SSS maternity benefit, and the employer advances the pay. See our maternity leave guide.

Is There a 105-Day Paternity Leave?

Not yet. House Bill 9891, the proposed PAPA Leave Act filed in June 2026 by Rep. Chel Diokno, would give fathers 90 continuous paid days after a live birth plus 15 flexible days within the first year, for 105 days in total, with no marriage requirement and SSS funding. Another proposal, House Bill 4430, would raise paternity leave to 30 working days. Both are bills, not law, as of November 11, 2026. Until one is enacted, the 7-day rule applies.

What Employers Should Do

  • Grant the 7 working days with full pay to eligible employees, and keep them separate from vacation and sick leave credits.
  • Ask for the usual proof, such as the marriage certificate and the child’s birth certificate or proof of delivery.
  • Check whether the mother has allocated maternity days to the father, and coordinate the SSS paperwork.
  • Include the leave pay correctly in payroll. See our payslip generator and final pay guide.

Leave policies handled correctly

Asiacruit manages statutory leave, payroll and benefits for every Philippines hire, with or without a local entity.

Explore Employer of Record Philippines

Official sources: DOLE (RA 8187) and SSS (RA 11210). Always confirm current rules with the agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days is paternity leave in the Philippines?

Paternity leave is 7 working days with full pay under RA 8187, the Paternity Leave Act of 1996.

Who qualifies for paternity leave?

A legally married male employee who lives with his spouse qualifies, for each of the first four deliveries of that spouse.

Can an unmarried father get paternity leave?

Not under RA 8187, which requires marriage. However, under RA 11210 the mother can allocate up to 7 days of her maternity leave to the child’s father whether or not they are married.

Is paternity leave paid by the employer or SSS?

The base 7 days under RA 8187 are paid by the employer at full pay. Days that the mother transfers under RA 11210 are drawn from her SSS maternity benefit, which the employer advances and can claim back from SSS.

Is paternity leave really 105 days now?

No. A 105-day proposal (House Bill 9891, the PAPA Leave Act) was filed in June 2026 but has not become law. The 7-day rule still applies.

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