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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senator Camille Villar pushes for mental health leave, journalist protections, and pro-worker legislation

Senator Camille Villar pushes for mental health leave, journalist protections, and pro-worker legislation

By MBrand
Published Jul 11, 2025 03:11 pm
Senator Camille Villar has filed a new wave of legislative proposals focused on mental health, labor protections, education, and social welfare.
At the center of her initiatives is a bill seeking to grant employees, in both the public and private sectors, three days of mental health wellness leave with full pay. Villar emphasized that this measure reinforces the state’s responsibility to protect every Filipino’s mental well-being and supports the development of a comprehensive and efficient national mental health care system.
Complementing this is a separate bill that would expand PhilHealth coverage to include a benefit package for all mental health disorders, further strengthening access to mental health care across the country.
Villar also filed a measure to provide mandatory insurance coverage and hazard pay for journalists and media workers, including freelancers and those on field assignments. The bill aims to ensure that media professionals are adequately protected given the risks they face on the job.
In addition, she proposed legislation promoting flexible work arrangements for pregnant and postnatal mothers, as well as a bill to integrate a basic life skills course into the high school curriculum. Another proposal, the “Ebooks for the Barangay Program,” seeks to increase access to digital educational materials in local communities.
Other measures include granting 13th month pay to contractual and job order government workers, mandating maternity packages for low-income pregnant women, and ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in tourism sites for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. She also filed a bill providing a one-time cash grant of ₱5,000 to recent graduates of Philippine universities and training institutions to assist with job applications and early employment expenses.
These proposals follow a series of earlier bills from Villar aimed at protecting women, children, and marginalized sectors. Her legislative agenda continues to reflect a strong commitment to inclusive development and worker welfare.

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