Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESHNTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousEB|LLNo.5584
Introduced by Hon. Representative Florida ``Rida P. Robes"
Lone District of the City of Sam Jose del Monte, Bulacan
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to MCLennan,  Whittaker, and Handmer, volunteers play a bigger role  in disaster
management now more than ever. This is primarily motivated by an increasing need to amplify disaster
resilience efforts.1
Our country's defense and resilience to the effects of the destructive effects of climate change
devolves not only  in the government but  involves the whole of civil  society and the private  sector.
Countless  of  storms  have  passed  yet  the  courage  of  Filipino  civil  society  volunteers  remained
unbreakable and indomitable, even to the point of sacrificing their lives, especially during emergencies.
Yet, it is unconscionable to that our policies are inadequate to protect our volunteers.
The Government simply cannot choose to be deaf and blind to the already established fact that
the emergency sector must tap the services of volunteers to respond to calamities, and the growing
difficulty of recruitment and retention that it cunently confronts. Should community-volunteers cease
to provide their unselfish devotion to serve, the Government will have to incur higher costs for a range
of cormected expenses.
Volunteers may perhaps feel rewarded by an overarching and transcendent sense of altruism.
However, there is  an overwhelming and urgent need to protect and empower our volunteers ~ our
modem-day heroes.
Experts suggests that it would be wise for emergency managers, volunteer coordinators, disaster
groups, and community leaders to form  alliances with volunteers before a crisis to ensure that their
citizens experience this rising of the human spirit.  Retaining volunteers entails empowering them to
serve, giving them a structured environment in which to do so, and appreciating the value their unique
and diverse contributions 2
Volunteers are not paid ~ not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless. As an
incentive to retain our volunteers and boost their morale, our volunteers deserve to be compensated with
financial, medical, and/or other non-pecuniary benefits.
FLORID#A" P. ROBES
I  MCLennan,  8.,  Whittalcer,  J.,  &  Handmer,  J.  (2016).  The  changing  landscape  of disaster  volunteering:  Opportunities,
responses and gaps in Australia. Iva/wrcr/ I/azczrd5, 84, 20312048.
2 Phillips, 8. (2020). Di.stzs/er  yo/##feers.  Butterworth-Heinemann


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOusEB|LiNo.  5584
Introduced by Hon. Representative Florida ``Rida P. Robes"
Lone District of the City of Sam Jose del Monte, Bulacan
AN ACT
ErmowERING    ERERGHNcy    vOLUNTEERs,    PROTECTING
FROM  LIABILITY  FOR  ACTS  0R  LIABILITIES  FOR  ACTS  OR
OMlssloN COMMITTED IN TIIE DlscHARGE OF THEm DUTIEs
AND/OR   PERFORMANCE   SERVICES   DURING   ERERGENCY
SITUATIONS,      PROVIDING      ALLOWANCES      AND      OTHER
INCENTlvEs, AND AppRopRIATING FUNDs THnREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Stiorf ri.I/c. -This Act shall be known as the "E"crgr#c}; Jro/##Jeer Pro/ec/j.o77
Act of 2022 "
SEC. 2. Dcc/aroli.o# a/Po/i.ey. -It shall be the policy of the State to promote the participation
of Filipino citizens in public and civic affairs and strengthen the practice of volunteerism as
strategy in order to attain national development. The inculcation of volunteerism as a way of
life rekindles in every Filipino the time-honored tradition of bayanihan to foster social justice,
solidarity,   and   sustainable   development.    Towards  this   end,   the   State   shall   encourage
individuals to volunteer and provide reasonable assistance during emergencies by protecting
them from liability.
SEC. 3. Dcfni.JI.o# a/ Terms. -  As used in this Act:
(1)      yo/w7!/eer  refers  to  an  individual  or  group  who  provides  reasonable  assistance  and
contributes  time,  service  and  resources  in  an  emergency  assistance  and  contributes  time,
service and resources in an emergency situation and who does not receive compensation for
rendering volunteer service;
(2)     Emergr#ey  refers  to  a  situation  requiring  immediate  attention  and  remedial  action
involving an unforeseen occurrence, sudden, and impending threat or danger to life, health, or
safety of a person;
(3)     yo/w#Jeer sec/ore refer to those sectors that organize themselves into volunteers, to take
advocacy  and  action  primarily  for  local  and  national  development  as well  as  international
cooperation and understanding; and


or an untrained volunteer who perform volunteering as necessitated by an emergency situation
and without the supervision or management of the VSO or the volunteer sector.
See. 4. Iz.¢bz./I.ty Zto/tic/I.o"/or yo/w"Jeer. -No volunteer shall be liable for harmed caused by
an act or omission if:
(1)    The volunteer was acting in an emergency situation at the scene of an accident;
(2)    The  volunteer  was  properly  licensed,  certified,  or authorized  by  the  appropriated
authorities,  either  government  entities  or  non-government  organizations,  for  the
activities undertaken in an emergency at the time of the act or omission;
(3)    The harm was not cause by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless
misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the right or safety ofthe individual
harmed by the volunteer.
See. 5. E;taep/i.o#s. -The liability protection for volunteers under this Act shall not apply to
following conditions:
(1)     If the misconduct constitutes a crime under the Revised Penal Code or an offense in
any special penal law;
(2)     If the misconduct was performed by the volunteer under the influence of intoxicating
liquor or any dangerous ding at the time of the act or omission;
(3)     If the volunteers are from business organizations that employ volunteers for pecuniary
purposes; and
(4)     If volunteers received  compensation  for volunteering at a non-profit organization.
However, the non-profit organization shall not be liable if it exercised due diligence
in the selection and supervision of the volunteer.
Sec. 6. .4ccredi.to/I.o# a/ yo/w#/ccrs. -Unless properly licensed, certified, or authorized by the
appropriate  government  entities,   and  non-government  organization,   volunteers  must  be
accredited  by  and  registered  with  the  Philippine  National  Volunteer  Service  Coordinating
Agency (PNVSCA) prior to deployment to be exempted from liability.
See. 7. Ho#or¢rJ.win -There is hereby established an honorarium for volunteers in the amount
of one Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php 1,000.00) per day after he or she has participated
in  any  disaster,  risk,  emergency  or rescue training,  mission,  operation,  or  initiative  in  the
Philippines; provz.dec7, that such honorarium shall be free from any national or local tax.
Sex:. 8. Death, Disability and Hospitalization Benefus. -Notw.Tthsrfunding alny dearth arndlor
disability  (whether total  or  partial)  under  provisions  of other  special  law,  the  heirs  of the
volunteer shall be entitled to receive -
(a)  One  million   pesos   (Php   1,000,000.00),   in   case   of  death   of  the
volunteer;
(b) Two hundred thousand pesos (Php 200,000.00), in case of disability;
and


(c)  Fifty  pesos  (Php   50,000.00),   in  case  of  hospitalization  requiring
medical attendance of more thirty (30) days.
In any case, an injured volunteer shall be entitled to prompt, quality and reasonable emergency
and  medical  services  in  any  government  hospital.    Medical  services  shall  include,  but not
limited, to preventive, curative and rehabilitative services or treatment that would save the life
of the injured volunteer, and prevent further injuries or disability.
Sec. 9. 4zxpraprJ.a/I.o". -The amount necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act following the enactment of this
law.
Sec. 9. Free I,cg¢/ ¢£si.st¢#cc. - Any volunteer who is sued for acts or omissions provided
under Section 4  herein  shall  be entitled to  free  legal  assistance from the  Public Attomey's
Office (PAO).
See. 7. IV¢fi.o"¢/ Pwb/i.c J#/orm¢Ji.o# C¢xp¢i.g#. ~ The PNVSCA, in consultation with relevant
government   entities,   and   non-government   organizations   shall   undertake   a   nationwide
information, education and communication campaign for the attairment of the objectives of
this act.
See. 8. Jxp/cme#/I."g jR#/cs ¢#d jRcgw/o/I.our. - The PNVSCA, in consultation with relevant
government entities and non-profit organizations,  shall  promulgate  rules and  regulations to
implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.
See.   9.   Scparobi./I.07   a/awsc.   -    If  any   portion   or  provisions   of  this   Act   is   declared
unconstitutional, the remained of this Act or any provision shall affect thereby shall remain in
force and effect.
See. 10. jRcpc¢/I.#g CJ¢wse All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or other issuances
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
See.11. Ejj7:ecfi.vrty. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper or of general circulation.