House Assistant Minority Leader Chel Diokno of the Akbayan party-list files a bill seeking to expand paternity leave for fathers after childbirth. According to reports, Diokno proposes extending paid paternity leave from the current seven days to 90 days, as stated in his House Bill 9891, also referred to as the Paternity and Parental Leave Act (PAPA Leave Act). Another account of the same measure says the proposal increases the leave to a total of 105 days. The initiative frames the extended leave as a shared responsibility between both parents and emphasizes the role fathers and other caregivers can play during a child’s earliest days of life. The measure is presented as a way to strengthen family bonds and support child development outcomes by enabling fathers to be more present during critical stages following a birth. The bill is filed in the House and is described as an effort to improve existing leave benefits for fathers and caregivers.