.J 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHiLIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1183 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
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Several countries have been assisted by the Red Cross during times of disasters. Disaster 
preparedness, one of the major components of the Red Cross program, aims to prepare the 
vulnerable communities in the event of calamities. The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), 
specifically, has been offering a wide array of hrunanitarian services that include relief 
operations in times of disasters in the country. 
In response to the increasing nrunber of disasters in recent years and to the rising costs brought 
about by these calamities, it is timely and favorable to have a legislation authorizing a paid leave 
for employees who volunteer for the PNRC disaster operations. Those employees who possess 
skills that can be useful to disaster operations, such as shelter management, mass feeding, 
damage assessment and family services, deserve to be granted with particular kinds of benefits. 
This bill grants public and private employees, who are also disaster service volunteers, a leave 
from work with pay in any twelve-month period to participate in specialized disaster relief 
services for the PNRC. This also considers it essential for the government to allow and 
encourage the employees to request for disaster leave during periods of disasters and 
humanitarian need to assist the PNRC. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly requested. 
LLANES IV 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
·13 
JUL.1i 
.. . Ii 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1183 
IlE( 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
GRANTING DISASTER SERVICE VOLUNTEERS A PAID LEAVE DURING PERIOD 
OF DISASTERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Disaster Service Volunteer 
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Leave Act". 
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SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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(a) "DepartmeJ;lt" or "agency" - means !illY office, officer, official, department, board, 
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commission, institution, bureau, agency, division or unit, including those within the legislative 
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and judicial branches of the govermnent; 
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(b) "Disaster" includes a local disaster designated at level I or higher in the Philippine 
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National Red Cross (PNRC) Regnlations and Procedures or a national disaster at level III or 
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higher in the PNRC Regulations; 
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(c) "Certified disaster service volunteer" or "volunteer" means any person who has 
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completed the necessary training and has been certified as a disaster service specialist by the 
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PNRC. 
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SEC. 3. Disaster Service Volunteer Leave. - (a) An employee of an agency who is a 
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certified disaster service volunteer may be granted leave from work with pay, for up to an 
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aggregate of fifteen (15) days, consecutively or non-consecutively, in any twelve-month period 
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to participate in specialized disaster relief services for the Philippine National Red Cross 
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(PNRC) in connection with any disaster, upon the request of the PNRC for such employee's 
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services and upon the approval of such employee's employing agency. An employee of any 
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private sector business who is a certified disaster service volunteer may be granted the same 
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benefits. 
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(b) An employee of an agency granted leave pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section 
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shall be compensated by the employing agency at the employee's regular rate of pay for those 
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regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work, but shall not receive 
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overtime pay, shift differential pay, hazardous duty payor any other form of payor 
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compensation in addition to the employee's regular pay. An employee who is granted leave 
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pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section shall not lose any seniority or any already 
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accumulated vacation time, sick time or earned overtime due to such leave. 
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( c) The government shall not be liable for workers' compensation claims arising from 
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accident or injury while an employee is on assignment as a certified disaster service volunteer 
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for the PNRC. Duties performed while on disaster leave shall not be considered to be a work 
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assignment by any department or agency. In determining whether to grant leave to an employee, 
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the employing agency may consider the needs of the PNRC for expertise in a particular certifieq 
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area. The employee's activities and job functions while on leave, however, shall not be directed 
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by the government but shall be determined and controlled solely by the PNRC. 
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SEC. 4. Certification as a Disaster Service Volunteer. - No employee shall be paid 
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during regular work hours in the completion of any training towards a certification as a disaster 
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service volunteer unless such employee uses personal or annual leave. 
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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, 
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the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in fun force and effect. 
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SEC 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws,' decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
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two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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