Senator Camille Villar Champions Mental Health Wellness Leave
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Camille Villar has introduced a series of legislative proposals focused on promoting mental health wellness and enhancing protections for workers, students, mothers, and vulnerable communities. Central to her agenda is the Mental Health Wellness Leave, a three-day paid leave for employees in both public and private sectors. This initiative aims to integrate mental health into core labor policies, ensuring a robust national mental health care system that meets the psychiatric, neurologic, and psychosocial needs of Filipinos.
Recognizing the critical role of accessible mental health services, Villar also filed a bill to expand PhilHealth coverage. This measure would include benefits addressing all mental health disorders, making treatment more affordable and available nationwide. These bills emphasize the senator’s commitment to mental health wellness as a fundamental right.
Legislative Push for Worker Protection and Social Welfare
Beyond mental health wellness, Villar’s proposals extend protections to journalists and media workers. Her bill mandates insurance coverage, hazard pay, and additional benefits for field reporters and freelancers exposed to high-risk environments. This move aims to safeguard the welfare and security of media personnel on dangerous assignments.
Villar also advocates flexible work arrangements for pregnant women and postnatal mothers, acknowledging their unique health and caregiving needs. Her social welfare initiatives include granting 13th month pay to contractual government employees and providing maternity packages to low-income pregnant women, enhancing support for marginalized groups.
Education and Community Development Initiatives
In education, Villar promotes the introduction of a Basic Life Skills course in high school curricula, equipping students with essential knowledge for daily living. She also proposes the “Ebooks for the Barangay” program, aiming to supply digital learning resources to communities and bridge educational gaps.
Inclusive Policies for Vulnerable Sectors
Additional bills focus on inclusivity and accessibility, requiring tourism sites to accommodate persons with disabilities and senior citizens. To assist young graduates entering the workforce, Villar proposes a one-time cash grant of ₱5,000 to support job search expenses and initial employment costs.
Building on her previous work to protect women and children, Senator Villar continues to advocate for inclusive and responsive legislation. Her efforts underscore a holistic approach to mental health wellness, labor rights, education, and social equity, reflecting the pressing needs of Filipino communities.
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