Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING ONLINE VOLUNTEERISM OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Volunteerism is one of the ways citizens can participate actively in nation 
building. It encourages the involvement of the public in important social and civil 
affairs. Opportunities for volunteerism activities, however, mostly require service 
delivery in physical or face to face set-ups.  
While the State provides for the inclusion and integration of Persons with 
Disabilities into the mainstream of society, physical disability may limit a 
person’s capacity to participate in volunteer works. 
In the Philippines, a total headcount of 1.443 million Filipinos are persons 
with disability1. To uphold the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities, 
Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was enacted in 
1992. 
Throughout the years, RA 7277 had its fair share of amendments to adapt 
to the times. Despite this, there remains a gap in making volunteerism 
opportunities inclusive to persons with disabilities. 
1 2010 Census of Population and Housing. 
August 16, 2022
8:01 am
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Fortunately, the digital age has brought forth great opportunities for 
persons with disabilities to further participate in social activities by breaking 
certain barriers of inaccessibility. With the help of assistive technology, persons 
with disability have become part of online conversations and engagements. 
Given the promise of the digital age, this bill seeks to provide persons with 
disabilities with opportunities to engage in worthy humanitarian activities and 
overcome barriers to inclusion, through online volunteerism. These online 
opportunities will enable them to develop their skills and become part of 
communities that advance different advocacies and human development, as they 
participate in the society on an equal basis with everyone else while helping their 
fellow people who face different challenges. 
Online volunteerism will serve as platform for our siblings with disabilities 
to share their strengths, abilities, and skills from the comfort of their own homes 
while making tremendous impact on the lives of others as well as their own. It is 
the hope of this measure to showcase not disabilities, but people’s different 
abilities with the end goal of achieving a more inclusive Filipino society. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING ONLINE VOLUNTEERISM OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION l. Short Title. - The Act shall be known as the “Online Volunteerism 
for Persons with Disabilities Act”  
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the role of persons 
with disabilities in nation-building and community development. Thus, it is 
hereby declared the policy of the State to encourage and promote volunteerism 
while ensuring the inclusivity of persons with disabilities in nation-building. 
SECTION 3. Definitions - For the purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
defined as follows: 
a) ‘Governmental entity’ shall refer to any branch, office, or instrumentality
of government;
b) ‘Non-profit organization’ shall refer to any organization, which is organized
and conducted for public benefit, operated primarily for charitable,
religious, educational, professional, cultural, fraternal, literary, scientific,
social welfare, civic service, or similar purposes, and not for profit;
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c) ‘Online volunteerism’ shall refer to advocacy groups established online with 
an agenda to commit their time and energy for the well-being of others 
with an extraordinary opportunity to put their skills to serve via the 
internet; 
 
d) ‘Persons with disabilities’ shall be defined as someone who has a physical 
or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect 
on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities; 
  
e) ‘Volunteer’ shall refer to an Individual performing volunteer services who 
does not receive compensation or any other thing in lieu of compensation, 
other than reasonable reimbursement or allowance for expenses actually 
incurred; and 
 
f) ‘Volunteer services’ shall refer to services rendered by a volunteer for a 
governmental entity and non-profit organization. 
 
SECTION 4. Online Volunteerism Program for Persons with Disabilities. – 
The National Council for Disability Affairs, in cooperation with the Philippine 
National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, shall establish an Online 
Volunteerism Program for Persons with Disabilities where both government 
entities and non-government organizations can provide opportunities and 
humanitarian activities for the capacity development of differently-abled persons 
through registered web platforms. 
 
SECTION 5. Selection and Supervision of Online Volunteers with 
Disabilities — The NCDA, in cooperation with its partner government entities 
and non-government organizations, shall exercise due diligence in the selection 
and supervision, including training of online volunteers with disabilities to 
perform their volunteer tasks and services. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations – The NCDA, the Philippine 
National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, in consultation with relevant 
governmental entities, non-government organizations and stakeholders, shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the 
provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. 
 


SECTION 7. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or made available to 
disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under existing laws. 
SECTION 8.  Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to 
be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,