REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and 
HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY TO VOLUNTEERS 
FOR ACTS OR OMISSIONS COMMITTED IN THE PERFORMANCE 
OF THEIR DUTIES DURING EMERGENCIES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The spirit of volunteerism is innate to the Filipinos. In fact, we have a 
unique term for it – “bayanihan” – that embodies our strong sense of community, 
selflessness, and genuine heart for humanity. Volunteers expand the reach and 
defy the limitations of our emergency response infrastructure. Volunteers sign up 
and show up quickly upon the onslaught of typhoons, after the ruin of 
earthquakes, and grief over natural disasters to aid the relief operations.  
This bill recognizes the crucial role of voluntary endeavors in nation 
building. In conjunction with the Republic Act 9418 or the “Volunteer Act of 
2007,” the bill creates an “enabling and conducive environment for volunteer 
work” by protecting them from liabilities for acts committed in the performance 
of their duties during emergency situations.  
September 9, 2025
1:24 pm
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In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended. 
RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III 
LANI MERCADO-REVILLA 
BRYAN B. REVILLA 


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and 
HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY TO VOLUNTEERS 
FOR ACTS OR OMISSIONS COMMITTED IN THE PERFORMANCE 
OF THEIR DUTIES DURING EMERGENCIES 
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 “Emergency 
Volunteer Protection Act”. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is a policy of the State to promote the 
participation of Filipino citizens in public and civic affairs, and harness and 
strengthen the practice of volunteerism as a strategy toward national 
development. The inculcation of volunteerism as a way of life rekindles in every 
Filipino the time-honored tradition of bayanihan to foster social justice, solidarity 
and sustainable development. Towards this end, the State shall encourage 
individuals to volunteer and provide reasonable assistance during emergencies by 
protecting them from liability.  
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
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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 not receive compensation for rendering volunteer 
service; 
b. 
Emergency refers to a situation requiring immediate attention and 
remedial action involving an unforeseen occurrence, sudden, and 
impending threat or danger to life, health or safety of a person; 
c. 
Volunteer Sectors  refers 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 a 
trained volunteer whose trainings may be from a volunteer service 
organization (VSO), or volunteer or volunteer sector, or an untrained 
volunteer who perform volunteering as necessitated by an emergency 
situation and without the supervision and management of the VSO or the 
voluntary sector.  
Sec. 4. Liability Protection for Volunteers. – No volunteer shall be liable 
for harm caused by an act or omission if:  
a. 
The volunteer was acting in an emergency situation at the scene of an 
accident; 
b. 
The volunteer was properly licensed, certified or authorized by the 
appropriate authorities, either government entities or nongovernment 
organizations, for the activities undertaken in an emergency at the time of the act 
of omission; and, 


c. 
The harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross 
negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights 
and safety of the individual harmed by the volunteer.  
Sec. 5. Exceptions. – The liability protection for volunteers under this Act 
shall not apply to the following conditions: 
a. 
If the misconduct constitutes a crime under the Revised Penal Code 
or an offense in any special penal law; 
b. 
If the misconduct was performed by the volunteer under the 
influence of intoxicating liquor or any dangerous drug at the time of the act 
or omission; 
c. 
If the volunteers are from business organizations that employ 
volunteers for pecuniary purposes; and 
d. 
If volunteers receive compensation for volunteering at a nonprofit 
organization. However, the nonprofit organization shall not be liable if it 
exercised due diligence in the selection and supervision of the volunteer.  
Sec. 6. Accreditation of Volunteers. – Unless properly licensed, certified 
or authorized by the proper appropriate government authorities, other government 
entities, and nongovernment organizations, volunteers must be accredited by and 
registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency 
(PNVSCA) prior to deployment to be exempted from liability.  
Sec. 7. Additional Incentives for Volunteers. – The PNVSCA shall 
sponsor and/or facilitate the provision of the following incentives for volunteers, 
upon consultation and in coordination with relevant government agencies and 
nongovernment organizations:  
a. 
Insurance coverage; 
 
1. Disability benefit; 


i.Hospitalization, medical treatment and rehabilitation therapy; 
ii.Death benefit 
b. 
Trainings, seminars and similar avenues for further education and 
skills improvement; 
c. 
Additional special privilege leave benefits; 
d. 
Employment merits commensurate to the length, kind and quality of 
volunteer work and service rendered that may translate to appointment, 
promotion, salary increase, regularization, or similar career and 
professional advancement. 
Sec. 8. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. – The PNVSCA, in 
consultation with relevant government entities and nonprofit organizations, shall 
undertake a nationwide information education and communication campaign for 
the attainment of the objectives of this Act.  
Sec. 9.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within thirty (30) days 
after the effectivity of this Act, The PNVSCA, in consultation with relevant 
government entities and nonprofit organizations, shall issue the rules and 
regulations for its  effective implementation. 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder hereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
Sec. 11.  Repealing Clause. –  All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, letter of instructions, proclamations or administrative regulations that are 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 


Approved,