EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
, 
S.'i \\c<.
of fill'
S E N A T E
*19 
JUL 16 
AH -40
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERISM DURING EMERGENCIES BY PROTECTING
VOLUNTEERS FROM LIABILITY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Filipino people have a characteristically strong sense of community. This 
is a nation that prides itself on its practice of bayanihan, where the individual 
readily lends oneself to the needs of the community. In an archipelagic country 
that has been historically vulnerable to strife and disaster, it is crucially hopeful 
that every tragedy is offset by narratives of selflessness—of civilians braving 
storm surges to rescue their neighbors, of volunteers going into war-torn areas 
to provide much-needed aid.
In the contemporary world, where time has become every individual's most 
precious capital, this sense of selfless service has found an avenue in 
volunteerism. It comes as no surprise that the Philippines has a notable record of 
volunteer workers. In Charities Aid Foundation's World Giving Index 2017, the 
Philippines ranked 7th out of 139 countries with the highest number of 
volunteers. According to the report, about 25 million Filipinos did volunteer work 
in 2016.1
This bill seeks to enjoin even more volunteers by offering them due legal 
protection as they render volunteer services for governmental entities, non-profit 
organizations, or the Philippine Red Cross. With this bill, volunteers, so long as 
they are acting in an emergency situation, are properly licensed, certified or 
authorized, and are acting within the scope of responsibilities assigned them, will 
not have to fear facing misplaced legal action.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently sought.
GUEL F. ZUBIRI
1 Flores, Helen. "Pinoys among world's top volunteers." The Philippine Star. 9 Sep 2017. Retrieved from: 
https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2017/09/09/1737538/pinoys-among-worlds-top-volunteers


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
\ , •■‘I > 
f
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No.
r o 3
tOffiCr of t ! ' S'- '! ft-'fi'
•19 JUL 16 All :40
-RlCElVtD p;,
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri 1 1
AN ACT
ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERISM DURING EMERGENCIES BY PROTECTING
VOLUNTEERS FROM LIABILITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Emergency
2 
Volunteer Protection Act of 2019."
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It shall be the policy of the State to
4 
provide a conducive and enabling legal environment for volunteers by placing
5 
mechanisms that will protect their rights and award them with privileges for their
6 
contribution to society.
7 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -  As used in this Act:
8 
a. "Volunteer" refers to an individual or group who provides reasonable
9 
assistance and contributes time, service and resources in an emergency situation
10 
and who does not receive compensation other than reasonable reimbursement or
11 
allowance for expenses actually incurred for rendering volunteer service.
12 
The volunteers shall be duly licensed, certified or authorized by
13 
appropriate government entities or nongovernment organizations, or accredited
14 
by and registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating
15 
Agency (PNVSCA) prior to deployment;
16 
b. "Emergency" requiring immediate attention and remedial action
17 
involving unforeseen occurrence sudden, and impending threat or dangers to
18 
life, health, or safety of a person;


1
2
3
4
5
6
c. "Volunteer sectors" 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
d. "Spontaneous volunteer" refers to an individual who may either be 
trained volunteers from accredited training institutions, or an untrained person 
who performs voluntary work as necessitated by an emergency situation.
7 
SEC. 4. Liability Protection for Volunteers. -  No volunteer shall be liable
8 
for harm caused by an act or omission done in performance of his or her duties
9 
or functions as volunteers if:
10 
a. The volunteer was acting in an emergency situation;
11 
b. The volunteer was properly licensed, certified or authorized by the
12 
appropriate government authorities, either government entities or non-
13 
government organizations, or accredited by and registered with the PNVSCA
14 
prior to deployment;
15 
c. The volunteer acted within the scope of his/her responsibilities in the
16 
government entity, non-profit organization, or the PNVSCA;
17 
d. The volunteer acted under orders or direction of appropriate
18 
government authority;
19 
e. The volunteer acted in an emergency situation, where there are no
20 
government authority or trained volunteers present, in order to assist or care for
21 
persons who are:
22
23
24
25
I. in serious and imminent danger, or apparently in serious and 
imminent danger, of being injured or further injured;
ii. injured or apparently injured; or
ill. suffering, or apparently suffering, from an illness.
26 
SEC. 5. Exceptions. -  The liability protection for volunteers under this Act
27 
shall not apply to the following:
28
a. Where the act constitutes a crime;


2
3
1
b. Where the volunteer caused damage or harm by willful or criminal 
misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant 
indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the volunteer; or
4 
c. Where the acts were performed under the influence of intoxicating
5 
alcohol or any dangerous drug at the time of the misconduct.
6 
SEC. 6. Mandatory Insurance. -  The PNVSCA shall provide an additional
7 
insurance coverage to all volunteers as defined in this Act which shall give the
8 
following minimum benefits:
9 
a. 
Disability 
Benefits 
of Three 
Hundred 
Fifty Thousand 
Pesos
10 
(P350,000.00) for volunteers who shall suffer total or partial disability, whether
11 
permanent or temporary, as a result of any injury sustained during performance
12 
of duty;
13 
b. Death benefits amounting to Three Hundred Thousand Pesos
14 
(P300,000.00) for volunteers who shall perish in the line of duty; and
15 
c. Reimbursement of actual medical costs up to Two Hundred Thousand
16 
Pesos (P200,000.00) for volunteers who shall be hospitalized or who shall require
17 
medical attendance for injuries sustained while in the performance of duty.
18 
SEC. 7. Trainings. -  The PNVSCA shall conduct mandatory trainings of all
19 
their registered and potential volunteers.
20 
SEC. 8. Accreditation of Voiunteers. -  Unless properly licensed, certified
21 
or authorized by the appropriate government authorities, other government
22 
entities or non-government organizations, volunteers must be accredited by and
23 
registered with the PNVSCA prior to deployment to be exempted from liability.
24 
SEC. 9. Nationwide Pubiic Information Campaign. -  The PNVSCA, in
25 
consultation with relevant governmental entities and non-profit organizations,
26 
shall undertake a nationwide information, education and communication
27 
campaign for the attainment of the objectives of this Act.
28 
SEC. 10. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. -  The PNVSCA, in
29 
consultation with relevant government entities and non-profit organizations, shall


1 
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within
2 
ninety (90) days from its effectivity.
3 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act shall be
4 
declared unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain
5 
in full force and effect.
6 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
7 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
8 
this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
9 
SEC. 13. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
10 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,