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)
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
F irst Regular Session 
)
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SENATE S.B. No 9  7 2
*19 
l\l)6 27 P5--24
R
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O i V . ’ .
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon
AN ACT
TO ENCOURAGE GOOD SAMARITANS WHO PROVIDE REASONABLE 
ASSISTANCE IN  AN EMERGENCY BY PROTECTING THEM FROM LIA B ILITY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In line with the policies of the State to protect and promote the right to health 
of the people and instill health consciousness among them, and to encourage the 
involvement of the people in public, social and civic affairs that promote the welfare 
of the nation, the natural filipino trait of malasakit must be promoted through proper 
legislation that encourage volunteerism.
A good Samaritan is defined as a person who voluntarily gives help to those in 
distress or need. It also means a compassionate person who unselfishly helps others, 
especially strangers, in reference to the parable of the good Samaritan in the Bible 
who aided a man who had been beaten and robbed in Luke 10:30-37.
In this bill, good Samaritans are individuals performing volunteer services who 
do not receive compensation to reasonably assist persons in an emergency. Timely 
and effective assistance in an emergency is a matter of vital concern affecting public 
health, safety, and welfare. This complements Republic Act No. 10871 or the Basic 
Life Support Training in Schools Act and encourages putting such training to good use. 
Good Samaritans will be protected from liability in providing reasonable assistance in 
an emergency as long as the good Samaritan was acting in an emergency; if 
appropriate or required, the good Samaritan was properly licensed, certified, or 
authorized by the appropriate authorities for the activities undertaken in an 
emergency; and the harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross 
negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant, indifference to the rights or 
safety of another.
RICHARDJ*jGORDON
— S ^ to r


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE S.B. N o 9 7 2
1 f.'
ol I In s e rc rrtiirn
'19 AUG 27 P5 24
Introduced by Senator Richard 3. Gordon
AN ACT
TO ENCOURAGE GOOD SAMARITANS WHO PROVIDE REASONABLE 
ASSISTANCE IN  AN EMERGENCY BY PROTECTING THEM FROM LIA B ILITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. S hort Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Good Samaritan
2 
Act of 2019."
3 
Sec. 2. Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to encourage good Samaritans
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who provide reasonable assistance in an emergency by protecting them from liability.
5 
Sec. 3. Definitions. -  For purposes of this Act,
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(1) "Good Samaritan" shall refer to an individual performing volunteer services who
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does not receive compensation to reasonably assist a person in an emergency.
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(2) "Emergency" shall refer to a situation requiring immediate attention and
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remedial action involving a sudden, unexpected, and impending threat to life,
10 
health, or safety of a person.
11 
Sec. 4. L ia b ility Protection fo r Good Samaritans. -  No good Samaritan
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shall be liable for harm caused by an act or omission if:
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(l)th e  good Samaritan was acting in an emergency at the time of the act or
14 
omission;
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(2) if appropriate or required, the good Samaritan was properly licensed, certified,
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or authorized by the appropriate authorities for the activities undertaken in an
17 
emergency at the time of the act or omission; and


1 
(3) the harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence,
2 
reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety
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of the individual harmed by the good Samaritan.
4 
Sec. 5. Exceptions. -  The liability protection for good Samaritans under this
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Act shall not apply to misconduct that:
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(1) constitutes a crime; or
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(2) was performed under the influence of intoxicating alcohol or any dangerous
8 
drug at the time of the misconduct
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Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
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or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
12 
Sec. 7. S eparability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is
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declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
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thereby shall remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 8. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
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general circulation in the Philippines.
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Approved,