Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6271

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representatives Benjamin “Atong” D. Asilo, Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba,
Winston “Winnie” T. Castelo, and Catalina G. leonen-Pizarro

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A STRATEGY FOR [RURAL] NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHENING VOLUNTEERISM AS DOMAIN OF PEOPLE'S
PARTICIPATION, AND [FOR OTHER PURPOSES] AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9418 OR THE“ VOLUNTEER ACT OF 2007”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The nationwide advocacy efforts and consultations conducted by the
Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA),
following the enactment of the law in 2007, attest to the desire of different
sectors to collaborate and harmonize their volunteering efforts for local and
national development, as called for in RA 9418. It is in this context of
partnership between and among the key players in volunteerism that the
proposal for strengthening policies, programs and systems is anchored,
including areas which were not considered in the existing provisions of the
law.

The “National Volunteer Service Program” (NVSP) is invoked in the
mandates of the said Agency but not defined in the law. However, we
believe that the scope of the NVSP needs to be reviewed and defined in the
context of PNVSCA- coordinated volunteer programs, other government
volunteer programs, and private sector volunteer programs.

RA 9418 only encourages program implementers to provide volunteers with
recognition and incentive package. And to operationalize the goal “to provide
a conducive and enabling environment for volunteers and volunteer service
organizations by setting mechanisms to protect volunteers’ rights and
privileges, and give due recognition to highlight their roles and contributions


to society,” the law must mandate certain responsibilities and commitments
by agencies and organizations implementing volunteer programs.

It is also important to address a concern over the implementation of
volunteer programs which entails cost for projects and activities, volunteer
support and operational management. At present, there is an inadequate
human and financial resources to effectively implement the mandates of
PNVSCA since RA 9418 does not provide the source of funding for volunteer
programs.

The essence of this amendatory bill is to institutionalize volunteerism as an
strategy, not only lopment but also for national development,
and in supporft6 international commitment to volunteerism.

oH. MA LOURDES /ACOSTA~AUEA

HON. Sino T

KON. CATAUI DNEN- PIVA RRO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6271

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives Benjamin “Atong” D. Asilo, Ma. Lourdes Acosta —
Alba, Winston “Winnie” T. Castelo, and Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING A STRATEGY FOR [RURAL] NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHENING VOLUNTEERISM AS DOMAIN OF
PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION , AND [FOR OTHER PURPOSES] AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9418 OR THE “VOLUNTEER ACT OF 2007”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Sections 1, 4, 5, 9, and 12 of Republic Act No. 9418 are hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known and cited as the“ NEW Volunteer Act
of [2007] 2016.”

“Section 4. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of this Act, the following shall
mean:

(A) NATIONAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAM REFERS TO THE
COLLABORATIVE UNDERTAKING OF THE VARIOUS SECTORS IN
THE PHILIPPINES TO SUPPORT NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND UNDERTAKING THROUGH
VOLUNTEERISM”

(B) Volunteerism XX XX XX

( C) Volunteer XX XX XX

(D) Volunteer Service Organization XX XX

(E) Voluntary Sector XX xx xX

“Section 5. Role and Modalities of Volunteerism [ in the Private Sector ]
(a) Volunteerism in the Academe x x x.

THE ACADEME SECTOR SHALL COLLECTIVELY DEFINE TO
INCLUDE BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS,
INCLUDING STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.

(b) Volunteerism in the Corporate Sector X X= X.


GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND CONTROLLED-CORPORATIONS AND
GOVERNMENT FINANCING INSTITUTIONS ARE ALSO CATEGORIZED
UNDER THE CORPORATE SECTOR AS THEY IMPLEMENT THEIR
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AS A COMPONENT OF CORPORATE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.”

(c) Volunteerism by Not-for-Profit Organization x x x

“Section 9. Mandates of the Philippine National Volunteer Service
Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA). The PNVSCA shall have the following
functions:

(a) XX XX xX

(c) Act as clearinghouse for matters pertaining to LOCAL and
international volunteer services *

(h) XX xX XX
“Section 12. Special Provisions. -
(a) XX XX xX

(d) [Recognition and] Incentives to Volunteers.- Government
agencies, PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS AND
VOLUNTEER SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS SHALL PROVIDE THE VOLUNTEERS
WITH INCENTIVE PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE HEALTH, ACCIDENT AND LIFE INSURANCE
COVERAGE, AND REASONABLE ALLOWANCES AS MAY BE
AGREED BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE
VOLUNTEER.

(F) ORIENTATION AND TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS. -
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS
AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS SHALL PROVIDE THE VOLUNTEERS
WITH ORIENTATION ON THE VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT AND
APPROPRIATE TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL
SERVE IN DISASTER RESPONSE AND THOSE WHO WILL
ASSIST IN SOCIAL SERVICES FOR PERSONS IN SPECIAL.
CIRCUMSTANCES.

(G) INCENTIVES FOR FILIPINO OVERSEAS VOLUNTEERS.-
VOLUNTEER SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING
PROGRAMS ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF FILIPINO VOLUNTEERS
OVERSEAS SHALL PROVIDE THE VOLUNTEERS WITH THE
FOLLOWING:

(i) INCCOUNTRY ORIENTATION AND TRAINING;
(ii) SUPPORT DURING THEIR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO VOLUNTEER


ALLOWANCES , HEALTH, AND SAFETY ASPECTS
INCLUDING EVENTS OF MEDICAL OR SECURITY
EMERGENCIES, INSURANCE COVERAGES
INCLUDING THIRD PARTY LIABILITY, AND
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO /FROM COUNTRY OF
ASSIGNMENT, AND

(ii) LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION IN
CASES WHERE COURT PROCEEDINGS, WHETHER
CIVIL OR CRIMINAL.

(H) INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
VOLUNTEER AWARDS PROGRAM (PNVAP) COMPRISING OF
ANATIONAL VOLUNTEER AWARD AND LOCAL VOLUNTEER
AWARD-

(i) THE NATIONAL OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD
(NOVA) SHALL BE CONFERRED BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THE PHILIPPINES TO RECOGNIZE THE EXEMPLARY
CONTRIBUTIONS, DEDICATION TO SERVICE AND
ACHIEVEMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
IN UPLIFTING THE LIVES OF PEOPLES AND
COMMUNITIES THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM

THE CONFERMENT SHALL BE INACCORDANCE WITH
SUCH CEREMONIES AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE
RULES AND REGULATIONS TO BE PROMULGATED
HEREINAFTER. THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER
SERVICE COORDINATING AGENCY (PNVSCA) SHALL
IMPLEMENT THE PNVAP.

THE FUNDS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE NOVA PROGRAM SHALL BE INITIALLY SOURCED

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S SOCIAL FUND (PSF) AND
THEREAFTER, INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET OF THE
PNVSCA UNDER THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT.

(ii) THE LOCAL OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD
(LOVA) SHALL ALSO BE ESTABLISHED IN RECOGNITION
OF THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF VOLUNTEER
INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.

THE LOVA PROGRAM SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT (LGU) AND THE AWARD
SHALL BE CONFERRED BY THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

THE FUNDS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE LOCAL AWARD SHALL BE SOURCED FROM THE
BUDGET OF THE CONCERNED LGU.


(iii) THE PNVSCA, IN CONSULTATION WITH ITS MULTI-
SECTORAL ADVISORY BOARD (MSAB) AND OTHER
CONCERNED AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS SHALL
FORMULATE THE GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE PNVAP.”

Sec. 2. New Section 14 is hereby added and shall be read as follows:

“SEC. 14. FUNDING OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND
ACTIVITIES. - GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE SECTOR
ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, PROJECTS,
AND ACTIVITIES SHALL ALLOCATE FUNDS TO MANAGE, SUPPORT AND
SUSTAIN VOLUNTEERING INITIATIVES.”

Sec. 3. Sections 14, 15, and 16 are hereby renumbered as new Sections 15, 16,
and 17, respectively.

XX XX xX
Sec. [16] 17. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following

the publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,