NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
(§h ^enatf
of tl)p *>cr’ frt’i37>
*22 JUL14 PI 53
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 602
RECEIVED BV
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERISM DURING EMERGENCIES BY PROTECTING
VOLUNTEERS FROM LIABILITY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Filipino people have a characteristically strong sense of community. We 
are a nation that prides ourselves on our practice of bayanihan, where the 
individual readily lends oneself to the needs of the community. In an archipelagic 
country that has been historically vulnerable to strife and disaster, It is crucially 
hopeful that every tragedy is offset by narratives of selflessness - of civilians 
braving storm surges to rescue their neighbors, of volunteers going into war-torn 
areas to provide much-needed aid.
In the contemporary world, where time has become every individuahs most 
precious capital, this sense of selfless service has found an avenue in volunteerism. 
It comes as no surprise that the Philippine has a notable record of volunteer 
workers. This has been particularly prevalent when the country was hit by the 
COVID-19 pandemic, wherein hundreds of volunteers nationwide have mobilized 
to lend their time, services and expertise to help those who have been affected by 
the pandemic.
This bill seeks to further encourage volunteerism In the country by providing 
our volunteers with due legal protection as they render their services for 
government entities, non-profit organizations, or the Philippine Red Cross. With 
this bill, volunteers, so long as they are acting in an emergency situation, are 
properly licensed, certified or auiihorized, and are acting within the scope of 
responsibilities assigned to them, will not have to fear facing misplaced legal 
action.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently sought.
Miguel f. zubiri


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oJtl)CS?rn-er.ivr
•22 JUL14 PI 53
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
RECEIVED BY;
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 602
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEERISM DURING EMERGENCIES BY PROTECTING
VOLUNTEERS FROM LIABILITY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Emergency 
Volunteer Protection Act of 2022."
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
provide a conductive and enabling legal environment for volunteers by placing 
mechanisms that will protect their rights and award them with privileges for their 
contribution to society
SEC. 3 Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) "Volunteer" refers to an individual or group who provides reasonable 
assistance and contributes time, service and resources in an emergency 
situation and who does no receive compensation other than reasonable 
reimbursement or allowance for expenses actually incurred for rendering 
volunteer service.
The volunteers shall be duly licensed, certified or authorized by appropriate 
government entities or nongovernment organizations, or accredited by and 
registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating 
Agency (PNVSCA) prior to deployment;


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b) "Emergency" requiring immediate attention and remedial action involving 
unforeseen occurrence sudden, and impending threat or dangers to life, 
health or safety of a person;
c) "Volunteer sectors" refer to those sectors that organize themselves Into 
volunteers to take advocacy and action primarily for local and national 
development as well as international cooperation and understanding; and
d) "Spontaneous volunteer" refers to an individual who may either be trained 
volunteers from accredited training institutions, or an untrained person who 
performs voluntary work as necessitated by an emergency situation.
SEC. 4 Liability Protection for Volunteers— No volunteer shall be liable for 
harm caused by an act or omission done in performance of his or her duties or 
functions as volunteers if:
a. The volunteer was acting in an emergency situation;
b. The volunteer was properly licensed, certified or authorized by the appropriate 
government authorities, either government entities or non-government 
organizations, or accredited by and registered with the PNVSCA prior to 
deployment;
c. The volunteer acted within the scope of his/her responsibilities in the 
government entity, non-profit organization, or the PNVSCA;
d. The volunteer acted under orders or direction of appropriate government 
authority;
e. The volunteer acted in an emergency situation, where there are no government 
authority or trained volunteers present, in order to assist or care for persons 
who are:
i. 
In serious or imminent danger, or apparently in serious and 
imminent danger, of being injured or further injured;
ii. 
Injured or apparently injured; or
iii. 
Suffering, or apparently suffering, from an illness.
SEC. 5. Exceptions. - The liability protection for volunteers under this Act 
shall not apply to the following:
a. Where the act constitutes a crime:
b. Where the volunteer caused damage or harm by willful or criminal 
misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious.


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C.
flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by 
the volunteer; or
Where the acts were performed under the influence of intoxicating 
alcohol or any dangerous drug at the time of the misconduct.
SEC. 6. Mandatory Insurance. - The PNVSCA shall provide an additional 
insurance coverage to all volunteers as defined in this Act which shall give the 
following minimum benefits:
a. ) Disability Benefits of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P350,000.00) for
volunteers who shall suffer total or partial disability, whether permanent or
temporary, as a result of an injury sustained during performance of duty;
b. ) Death benefits amounting to Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00)
for volunteers who shall perish in the line of duty; and
c. ) Reimbursement of actual medical costs up to Two Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P200,000.00) for volunteers who shall be hospitalized or who shall require
medical attendance for injuries sustained while in the performance of duty.
SEC. 7. Trainings. - The PNVSCA shall conduct mandatory trainings of all 
their registered and potential volunteers.
SEC. 8. Accreditation of Volunteers. - Unless properly licensed, certified or 
authorized by the appropriate government authorities, other government entities or 
non-government organizations, volunteers must be accredited by and registered with 
the PNVSCA prior to deployment to be exempted from liability.
SEC. 9. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. - The PNVSCA, in 
consultation with relevant government entities and non-profit organizations, shall 
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety 
(90) days from its effectivity.
SEC. 10. The Secretariat - The EMSS Council shall organize a Secretariat 
headed by a person of probity and shall have at least five (5) years experience in 
emergency medical services or a related field.
SEC. 11. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
effect.


SEC. 19. Repealing Clause,- ^\\ laws, degrees, orders, rules and regulations 
or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 20. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at leat two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,