REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3
House BillNo. _ 908

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Representativesfrancisco Ashley L. Acedillo and
Gary C. Alejano

Explanatory Note

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 humanitarian services that include relief
operations in times of disasters in the country.

In response to the increasing number 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.

.

ISCO ASHLEY L. ACEDILLO -ARY C. ALEJANO


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3
House Bill No. 938

Introduced by MAGDALO Party List Representatives Francisco Ashley L. Acedillo and
Gary C. Alejano

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:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Disaster Service Volunteer

Leave Act".

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) "Department" or "agency" - means any office, officer, official, department, board,
commission, institution, bureau, agency, division or unit, including those within the legislative
and judicial branches of the goverment;

(b) "Disaster" includes a local disaster designated at level I or higher in the Philippine
National Red Cross (PNRC) Regulations and Procedures or a national disaster at level III or
higher in the PNRC Regulations;

(©) "Certified disaster service volunteer" or "Volunteer" means any person who has
completed the necessary training and has been certified as a disaster service specialist by the

PNRC.

SEC. 3. Disaster Service Volunteer Leave. - (a) An employee of an agency who is a
certified disaster service volunteer may be granted leave from work with pay, for up to an

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
(PNRC) in connection with any disaster, upon the request of the PNRC for such employee's
services and upon the approval of such employee's employing agency. An employee of any
private sector business who is a certified disaster service volunteer may be granted the same
benefits.

(b) An employee of an agency granted leave pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section
shall be compensated by the employing agency at the employee's regular rate of pay for those
regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work, but shall not receive
overtime pay, shift differential pay, hazardous duty pay or any other form of pay or
compensation in addition to the employee's regular pay. An employee who is granted leave
pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section shall not lose any seniority or any already
accumulated vacation time, sick time or earned overtime due to such leave.

(c) The government shall not be liable for workers' compensation claims arising from
accident or injury while an employee is on assignment as a certified disaster service volunteer
for the PNRC. Duties performed while on disaster leave shall not be considered to be a work
assignment by any department or agency. In determining whether to grant leave to an employee,
the employing agency may consider the needs of the PNRC for expertise in a particular certified
area. The employee's activities and job functions while on leave, however, shall not be directed

by the government but shall be determined and controlled solely by the PNRC.

SEC. 4. Certification as a Disaster Service Volunteer. - No employee shall be paid
during regular work hours in the completion of any training towards a certification as a disaster

service volunteer unless such employee uses personal or annual leave.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional.

the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.


SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in

two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,