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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
9 MRY 27 P6 :A6 
(In substitution of S. No. 2591) 
Prepared bw the Committees on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws. National 
~~~~\~~~ 
RV ’ &- 
Defense and Security; and Ways and Means; with Senators Gordon, Zubiri,’Escudero, Biazon, i a m n  and 
the members of the Committees, as authors thereof. 
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AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 95, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ”AN 
ACT TO INCORPORATE THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED 
CROSS, AS AMENDED”, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. A new Section 1 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the 
Philippine National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby inserted to read as 
follows: 
”SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. - THIS ACT SHALL BE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS (PNRC) 
CHARTER OF 2009.” 
SEC. 2. 
A new Section 2 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the 
Philippine National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby inserted to read as 
follows: 
“SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE 
POLICIES. - THE STATE SHALL AT ALL TIMES ACT IN 
CONFORMITY WITH THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 1949 
AND THEIR ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS, AND SHALL 
ESTABLISH AND PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DULY 
RECOGNIZED AUTONOMOUS NATIONAL RED CROSS 
SOCIETY THAT SHALL PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF 
AND ASSISTANCE IN TIMES OF PEACE AND ARMED 
CONFLICT. THE STATE SHALL AT ALL TIMES RESPECT THE 
ADHERENCE BY THE NATIONAL RED CROSS SOCIETY TO 
THE 
FUNDAMENTAL 
PRINCIPLES 
OF 
HUMANITY, 


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IMPARTIALITY, 
NEUTRALITY, 
INDEPENDENCE, 
VOLUNTARY SERVICE, UNITY AND UNIVERSALITY. 
SEC. 3. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
NationaI Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and hrrther amended 
to read as follows: 
"SECTION 
[113. CREATION OF THE PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL RED CROSS. - PURSUANT TO THE GENEVA 
CONVENTIONS OF 1949, [vthere is hereby created in the 
Republic of the Philippines a body corporate [and politic] CALLED 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS (PNRC) WHICH 
SHALL [to] be the voluntary NON-GOVERNMENTAL SOCIETY 
[organization] officially designated AS AN AUXILIARY TO THE 
AUTHORITIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES IN 
THE HUMANITARIAN FIELD, [and] to assist the SAID 
AUTHORITIES [Republic of the Philippines] in discharging the 
obligations set forth in the Geneva Conventions[, and to perform 
such other duties as are inherent upon a national Red Cross Society]. 
PURSUANT TO THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF UNITY, 
THEPHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS SHALL BE THE 
ONLY NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE RED CROSS INTHE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SHALL PERFORM THE 
DUTIES INHERENT UPON SUCH STATUS OVER THE ENTIRE 
PHILIPPINE TERRITORY. The national headquarters of THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS [this Corporation] shall be 
located in Metropolitan Manila. 
SEC. 4. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
"SECTION [2] 4. POWERS. - ["The name of this corporation 
shall be "The Philippine National Red Cross" and by that name shall 
have perpetual succession with the power] THE PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL RED CROSS SHALL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING 
CORPORATE POWERS: 
A. To sue and be sued; 
B. T[t]o own and hold such real and personal estate as shall 
be deemed advisable and to accept bequests, donations 
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and contributions of property of all classes for ITS [the] 
purposes [of this Corporation hereinafter set forth]; 
C. T[t]o adopt a seal and to alter and destroy the same at 
pleasure, and to .have the right to adopt and to use, in 
carrying out its purposes hereinafter designated, as an 
emblem and badge, a red Greek cross on a white ground, 
[the same] as [has been] described in the Geneva 
Conventions [,and adopted by the several nations ratdying 
or adhering thereto]; 
D. TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH PUBLIC 
AUTHORITIES, AND ACCEPT PROVISIONS FOR 
THE COST OF ANY SERVICE OR ACTIVITY WHICH 
MAY BE ENTRUSTED TO IT, WITHIN THE SCOPE OF 
ITS OBJECT AND FUNCTIONS, PURSUANT TO 
SUCH AGREEMENTS; 
E. T[t]o ordain and establish by-laws and RULES AND 
regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the Republic 
of the Philippines; and 
F. G[g]enerally to EXERCISE ALL THE POWERS OF A 
CORPORATION AND do all such acts and things as may 
be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act 
and 
promote 
the 
purposes 
of 
said 
SOCIETY 
[organization]. 
[; and the corporation] THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED 
CROSS, AS hereby created, is designated as the NATIONAL 
SOCIETY [organization which is] authorized to act in matters of 
relief under said ConventionS. In accordance with the Geneva 
Convention, the issuance of the distinctive red cross emblem to 
medical units and establishments, personnel and neutralized in time 
of war shall be left to the military authorities. The red Greek cross on 
a white ground, as has been described by the Geneva Conventions is 
not, and shaI1 not be construed as a religious symbol, and shall have 
equal efficacy and applicability to persons of all faiths, creeds and 
beliefs. [The operational jurisdiction of the Philippine National Red 
Cross shall be over the entire territory of the Philippines.]” 
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SEC. 5. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read: 
"SECTION 131 5. PURPOSES. - F a t ]  T[t]he purposes of [this 
Corporation] THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS shall be 
as follows: 
a. To provide volunteer aid to the sick and wounded of 
armed forces in time of ARMED CONFLICT [war], in 
accordance with the spirit of and under the conditions 
prescribed by the Geneva Conventions to which the 
Republic of the Philippines proclaimed its adherence; 
b. For the purposes mentioned in the preceding sub-section, 
to perform all duties devolving upon the PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL RED CROSS [Corporation] as a result of the 
adherence of the Republic of the Philippines to the said 
Convention; 
c. To act in matters of voluntary relief and [in accordance 
with the authorities of the armed forces] as a medium of 
communication between people of the Republic of the 
Philippines and their Armed Forces, in time of peace and 
in time of ARMED CONFLICT [war], and to act in such 
matters between similar national societies of other 
COUNTRIES [governments] and the Governments and 
people and the Armed Forces of the Republic of the 
Philippines; 
' 
d. To establish and maintain a system of national and 
international relief in time of peace and in time of ARMED 
CONFLICT [war] and apply the same in meeting [and] 
emergency needs caused by typhoons, flood, fires, 
earthquakes, and other natural OR MAN-MADE 
disasters, and to devise and carry on measures for 
ALLEVIATING [minimizing] the suffering caused by 
such disasters; 
e. To devise and promote such other services in time of peace 
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and in time of ARMED CONFLICT [war] as may be 
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. .  
found desirable in improving the health, safety and 
welfare of the Filipino people; 
f. To devise such means as to make every citizen and/or 
resident of the Philippines a member of the Red Cross.” 
SEC. 6. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
”SECTION 141 6. POWERS IN PURSUIT OF MANDATE. - In 
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National Red Cross] shall: 
furtherance of the purposes mentioned in the preceding sub- 
paragraphs, AND IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO FULLY REALIZE 
ITS MANDATE UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND 
THIS ACT, the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS [Philippine 
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a. Be authorized to secure loans from any financial 
institution, which shall not exceed its budget of the 
previous year; 
b. ALL PROVISIONS OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY 
NOTWITHSTANDING, B[b]E exempt from payment of 
all 
[duties,] 
DIRECT 
AND 
INDIRECT 
taxes, 
INCLUDING VALUE-ADDED TAX (VAT), fees, and 
other charges of all kinds on all INCOME DERIVED 
FROM ITS OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE USE, 
LEASE OR SALE OF ITS REAL PROPERTIES, AND 
PROVISION OF SERVICES. THE PNRC SHALL ALSO 
BE EXEMIT FROM DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES, 
INCLUDING VALUE-ADDED TAX (VAT), DUTIES, 
FEES AND OTHER CHARGES ON importations and 
purchases for its exclusive use[, on donations for its 
disaster relief work and other Red Cross services, and in 
its benefits and fund raising drives. a11 provisions of law to 
the contrary notwithstanding.]; 
LIKEWISE, ALL DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND 
GIFTS MADE TO THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED 
CROSS 
TO 
SUPPORT ITS 
PURPOSES 
AND 
OBJECTIVES AS EMBODIED IN THIS ACT SHALL 
BE EXEMPT FROM THE DONOR’S TAX, AND SHALL 
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BE DEDUCTIBLE FROM THE GROSS INCOME OF 
THE DONOR FOR INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR 
FROM THE COMPUTATION OF THE DONOR- 
DECEDENT’S NET ESTATE AS A TRANSFER FOR 
PUBLIC USE FOR ESTATE TAX PURPOSES; 
FINALLY, THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED 
CROSS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE PAYMENT 
OF 
REAL PROPERTY TAXES ON ALL 
REAL 
PROPERTY OWNED BY IT; 
c. Be allotted by the PhiIippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 
AT LEAST one (1) lottery draw yearly for the support of 
its disaster relief operations in addition to its existing 
lottery draws for the Blood Program.” 
SEC. 7. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
“SECTION [51 7. MEMBERSHIP. - Membership in the 
Philippine National Red. Cross shall be open to THE entire 
population in the Philippines regardless of citizenship. Any 
contribution to the Philippine National Red Cross Annual Fund 
Campaign shall entitle the contributor to membership for one (1) 
year and the said contribution shall be deductible in full for taxation 
purposes.” 
SEC. 8. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
“SEC710N/6] 8. BOARD OF GOVERNORS. -The governing 
powers and authority shall be vested in a Board of Governors, 
composed of thirty (30) members, six (6) of whom shall be appointed 
by the President of the Philippines, eighteen (18) [shall be] elected by 
chapter delegates in biennial conventions, and the remaining six (6) 
[shall be] elected by the twenty-four (24) members of the Board 
already chosen. [At least one (1) but not more than three (3) of the 
Presidential appointees shall be chosen from the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines.] 
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a. The term of office of all members of the Board of 
Governors shall be four (4) years, WHICH MAY BE 
RENEWABLE. [Any member of 
the Board of 
Governors who has served two (2) consecutive full 
terms of four (4) years each shall be ineligible for 
membership on the Board for at least two (2) years; any 
term served to cover unexpired terms of office of any 
governor wil1,not be considered in this prohibition in 
serving two (2) consecutive full terms, and provided, 
however, that terms served for more than two (2) years 
shall be considered a full term.] 
b. Vacancies in the Board of Governors caused by death 
or resignation shall be filled by election by the Board of 
Governors at its next meeting, except that vacancies 
among the Presidential appointees shall be filled by the 
President.” 
SEC. 9. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read to read as follows: 
”SECTION 1719. OFFICERS. - The President of the Philippines 
shall be the Honorary President of the Philippine National Red 
Cross. The officers shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice-chairman, a 
Secretary, a Treasurer, a Counselor, an Assistant Secretary and an 
Assistant Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of 
Governors from among its membership for a term of two years and 
may be re-elected. The election of officers shall take place within 
sixty (60) days after all the members of the Board of Governors have 
been chosen and have qualified.” 
SEC. 10. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
”SECTION 18110. BIENNIAL MEETING. - The Biennial 
meeting of chapter delegates shall be held on such date and such 
place as may be specified by the Board of Governors to elect 
members of the Board of Governors and advise the Board of 


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Governors on the activities of the Philippine National Red Cross; 
Provided, however that during periods of great emergency, the 
Board of Governors in its discretion may determine that the best 
interest of the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS [corporation] 
shall be served by postponing such biennial meeting.” 
SEC. 11. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
”SECTION 
191 
11. 
BY-LAWS 
AND 
RULES 
AND 
REGULATIONS. - The power to ordain, adopt and amend by-laws, 
AS WELL AS ITS RULES .and regulations, INCLUDING THOSE 
GOVERNING ITS CHAPTERS, shall be vested in the Board of 
Governors.” 
SEC. 12. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby further amended to read 
“SECTION 1101 12. COMPENSATION. - The members of the 
Board of Governors, as well as the officers of the corporation, shall 
serve without compensation. The compensation of the paid staff of 
the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS [corporation] shall be 
determined by the Board of Governors upon the recommendation of 
the Secretary General.” 
SEC. 13. Section 11 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
”SECTION [11]13. FUNDING. - As a national voluntary 
SOCIETY [organization], the Philippine National Red Cross shall be 
financed primarily by contributions obtained through solicitation 
campaigns throughout the year which shall be organized by the 
Board of Governors and conducted by the Chapters in their 
respective jurisdictions. These fund raising campaigns shall be 
conducted independently of other fund drives and service needs.” 
SEC. 14. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
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”SECTION r12114. CHAPTERS. - The Board of Governors 
shall promulgate rules and regulations for the SOCIETY 
[organization] of local units of the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED 
CROSS to be known as Chapters. Said rules and regulations shall 
CONFORM 
TO 
THE 
BY-LAWS 
AND 
RULES 
AND 
REGULATIONS CREATED UNDER SECTION 11 OF THIS ACT, 
AND fix the relationship of the Chapters to the PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL RED CROSS [Corporation], define their territorial 
jurisdictions, and determine the number of delegates for each 
Chapter based on population, fund campaign potentials and service 
needs. 
THIS SHALL INCLUDE THE ORGANIZATION OF 
CHAPTERS IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES 
TO PROMOTE CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG THE 
YOUTH. PARTICIPATION IN THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL 
RED CROSS AS PART OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE 
TRAINING PROGRAM FOR TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS 
SHALL ALSO BE PROMOTED.” 
SEC. 15. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
”SECTION [13] 25. AMVUAL REPORT. - The PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL RED CROSS ,[Corporation] shall, at the end of every 
calendar year, submit to the President of the Philippines an annual 
report containing ITS [the] activities [of the Corporation] AND 
showing its financial condition[, the receipts and disbursements].” 
SEC. 16. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
to read as follows: 
“SECTION [I41 16. UNLAWFUL SOLICTTATION. - It shall be 
unlawful for any person to solicit, collect or receive money, 
materials, or property of any kind by falsely representing or 
pretending himself to be a member, agent or representative of the 
Philippine National Red Cross.” 
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to read as follows: 
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for any purpose whatsoever.” 
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to read as follows: 
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SEC. 17. Section 15 of Republic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
“SECTION 115J17. RED CROSS NAME AND EMBLEM. - The 
use of the name Red Cross is reserved exclusively to the Philippine 
National Red Cross and the use of the emblem of the red Greek cross 
on a white ground is reserved exclusively to the Philippine National 
Red Cross, medical services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
and such other medical facilities or other institutions as may be 
authorized by the Philippine National Red Cross as provided under 
Article 44 of the Geneva Conventions. It shall be unlawful for any 
other person or entity to use the words Red Cross or Geneva Cross 
or to use the emblem of the red Greek cross on a white ground or 
any designation, sign, or ksignia constituting an imitation thereof 
SEC. 18. Section 16 of Repubiic Act No. 95, otherwise known as the Philippine 
National Red Cross Charter, as amended, is hereby renumbered and further amended 
”SECTION [I61 28. PENAL CLAUSE. - [As used in this 
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Decree, the term person shall include any legal person, group, or 
legal entity whatsoever nature, and a] ANY person, WHETHER 
NATURAL OR JURIDICAL, violating any section of this Act shall, 
upon conviction therefor[e], be liable to a fine of not less than [one] 
FIFTY thousand pesos (P50,OOO) or imprisonment for a term not 
exceeding one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court, for each 
and every violation. In case the violation is committed by a 
corporation or association, the penalty shall devolve upon the 
president, director or any other officer responsible for such 
violation.” 
SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 20. Sepavability Clause. -.If any of the provisions of this Act is declared 
invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
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Approved, 
SEC. 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fieen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
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