FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~ 
S. No. 
~;)·,6 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 9 provides: 
"The State shall, by taw, and for the common good, undertake, in 
cooperation with the private sector, a continuing program of urban land reform 
and housing which will make available at affordable cost, decent housing and 
basic services to under-privileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and 
resettlement areas. It shall also promote adequate employment opportunities to 
such citizens. In the implementation of such program the State shall respect the 
rights of small property owners." 
This bill aims to strengthen the support base of Nonprofit Organizations which are 
building homes for the less fortunate. It will also give minors, not only the technical construction 
skills that building homes may bring, but also the uplifting moral value of working for social 
causes. l 
L~,- 4, ~.V".v-- ;Qy~~ 
AfiY MIRIAM DEF\)NSOR S~NTI~O 
I This bill was originally filed during the 14th C~ngress 2nd Regular Session 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN.,:\.llL 
S.No. Hf/6 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
\ / 
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AN ACT 
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. PERMITTING CERTAIN MINORS TO WORK AS VOLUNTEERS FOR NONPROFIT 
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ORGANIZATIONS CONSTRUCTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION I. Minors aged Fourteen Through Seventeen Permitted to Work as Volunteers 
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for Nonprofit 
Organizations 
Constructing Affordable Housing; 
Prohibited Acts. 
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, or regulation, minors who are between the ages 
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of fourteen and seventeen shall be perffiitted to work as volunteers for nonprofit organizations 
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engaged in the construction of affordable housing as determined by the Secretary of Labor 
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Subject to the following provisions: 
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A. That under no circumstances shall a minor be permitted to work in a project involving 
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the construction of affordable housing that is in any way associated with a profit making 
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commercial enterprise; 
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B. That no minor shall operate, perform maintenance, clean, inspect, work in, about, or in 
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connection with any power driven machinery involved in the construction of affordable housing; 
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C. That no minor shall engage in the construction of affordable housing without the 
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safety equipment required by law; 
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D. That no minor shall be permitted to work as a volunteer in the construction of 
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affordable housing except under the direct supervision of an adult; 
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E. That no minor shall be exposed to hazardous waste products or other hazardous 
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substances: 
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F. That no minor shall be permitted to work on any excavation, scaffolding or roofing; 
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G. That no minor shall be permitted to work: 
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(1) During School Hours; 
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(2) Before Seven O'clock in the morning; 
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(3) After Seven O'clock in the evening; 
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4) For more than five consecutive hours without a half-hour break, and 
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(5) For more than eighteen hours per week when school is in session. 
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SECTION 2. Insurance. - The nonprofit organization engaged in the construction of 
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affordable housing shall secure liabili!ty insurance to provide compensation for aU injuries, 
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including, but not limited to, occupational illness, sustained by minors working voluntarily in the 
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construction of affordable housing. The insurance required by this section shall have coverage 
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limits of at least One Million Pesos per Occurrence, at least One Million Pesos aggregate per 
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year and Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos for Property Damage. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause,. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days' 
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following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved 
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