NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
<®ff ir Of t!;r # :-r rtirj;
23 OEC-7 P5:08
SENATE
received BV:
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF TERROR ATTACKS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND OTHER PURPOSES
The World Terrorism Index 2023 ranks the Philippines as the second most 
affected by terrorism in the Asia Pacific region, while globally, our country is reported 
to be at the 18th spot out of 163 nations around the world. While there have been 
significant strides in the government's fight against acts of terror since the Duterte 
administration, the fact remains that terrorism and violent extremism continue to be 
among the security threats that confront us as a nation.
A recent case of a terror attack was the bombing of the Dimaporo Gymnasium 
inside the Mindanao State University Marawi City Campus during the celebration of a 
Catholic mass on 03 December 2023, which immediately took the lives of four (4) 
worshippers and injured around 50 people.
In most cases, if not all, victims of these evil acts who suffered injuries and 
families of those who were killed during terror attacks are left on their own with 
mounting expenses, such as but not limited to: medical, burial, transportation, and 
even long-term rehabilitation.
Thus, this measure intends to establish a program through the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to ensure that the terror victims and families 
of victims left behind have access to much-needed government assistance. It is for
this reason that the prompt approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
RC^NHpOD PADILLA
/ /Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2511
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of t!if ^ctrrtrrp
23 DEC-7 P5:08
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF TERROR ATTACKS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Terror Victims
2 
Assistance Act of2023".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State values the dignity of every human
4 
person and guarantees full respect for human rights. It is hereby declared a policy of
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the State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity
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and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies
7 
that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of
8 
living, and an improved quality of life for all.
9 
Towards this end, and in cognizance of the need to provide additional safety
10 
nets to assist Filipinos in crisis situations, the State shall provide financial, material,
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psychosocial and referral support and services to individuals and households who have
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become victims of terrorism and ensure the swift and efficient delivery of such support
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and services to them.
14 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act:
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(a) Assistance to Victims of Terrorism shall refer to the government
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assistance established under this Act;
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1 
(b) Financial Assistance shall refer ro assistance to cover expenses for
2 
medical, burial, transportation;
3 
(c) Burial Assistance shail refer to assistance to cover expenses incurred
4 
for transportation, interment or cremation of the remains of the
5 
deceased, including the provision of burial sites;
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(d) Material Assistance shall refer to assistance provided in the form of
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physical goods or commodities other than cash;
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(e) Medical Assistance shall refer to assistance to cover expenses
9 
incurred from hospitalization, medicines, doctor's consultation,
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medical treatment and procedures, and provision of assistive
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devices;
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(f) Psychosocial Support shall refer to assistance provided to meet the
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psychological, emotional, social, or spiritual needs, including
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interventions to improve the capacity of individuals to cope with the
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adverse psychosocial impact of calamities, illnesses, deaths, loss of
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employment or livelihood, and other similar difficult circumstances;
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(g) Rehabilitation refers to regaining skills or abilities that may have been
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lost or compromised as a result of acquiring a disability, or due to a
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change in one's disability or circumstances;
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(h) Terrorism shall refer to any act/s enumerated in Section 4 of Republic
21 
Act No. 11479 otherwise known as "The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020".
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Sec. 4. Terror Victim Assistance Program. — The Terror Victim Assistance
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Program (TVAP) is hereby established as a government program, through the
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to assist individuals who
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suffered injury or the immediate family of any person killed as a result of terrorism in
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the Philippines and abroad.
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Sec. 5. Eligible Beneficiaries. - The TVAP shall be intended for the following
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victims of terrorism:
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a. Immediate families of individuals killed; and
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b. Individuals who suffered injury.
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Sec. 6. Types and Forms of Assistance. — Assistance to injured victims or the
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immediate families of deceased victims of terrorism shall consist of: 
0


1 
a. Financial assistance in the form of outright cash, check, vouchers,
2 
tickets, guarantee letters and other similar devices to be issued in favor
3 
of beneficiaries under this Act for medical, transportation and burial
4 
purposes;
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b. Material assistance in the form of food packs, ready-to-eat meals, food
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stubs or vouchers, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, assistive devices and
7 
technologies, and other similar implements: Provided, That the
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procurement of goods and commodities shall be in accordance with
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Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the "Government
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Procurement Reform Act";
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c. Psychosocial support in the form of psychological first aid, social work
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counseling, and other necessary psychological and emotional
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interventions: Provided, That the provision of psychosocial support shall
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be in accordance with Republic Act No. 11036, otherwise known as the
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"Mental Health Act";
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d. Referral services in the form of coordination or endorsement of eligible
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beneficiaries under this Act to other government agencies that provide
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other services including, but not limited to: psychiatric, treatment and
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rehabilitative services;
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e. Rehabilitation services in the form of coordination and endorsement of
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eligible beneficiaries under this Act to other government agencies that
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provide training to regain skills or abilities that may have been lost or
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compromised as a result of acquiring a disability, or due to a change in
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one's disability or circumstances; and
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f. Other forms of assistance as may be deemed necessary by the DSWD.
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Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
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enactment into law and thereafter.


1 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within ninety (90) days
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after the effectivity of this Act, the DSWD shall prepare and issue the Implementing
3 
Rules and Regulations (IRR).
4 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
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amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If for any reason or reasons, any portion or
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provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, all other parts or
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provisions not affected shall thereby continue to remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,