we AEE
Or

Republic of the Philippines:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES * RECEIVED @
Queson City DATE: 17.
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines ranks as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world
due to its distinct location and geography. The country also lies along some of the
Earth's deepest tectonic faults. Hence, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and
earthquakes are not new to Filipinos. In fact, over the past two decades, the country
has endured close to 300 natural calamities which makes it the fourth most disaster-
prone in the world’.

The Department of Finance (DOF) estimates that climate vulnerable nations
like the Philippines lose about 2.5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to natural
calamities annually2. Along with the massive economic toll is the number of
casualties lost to natural calamities. Typhoon Haiyan alone claimed some 6300 lives,
with thousands still missing.

The burden weighs heavy upon the State to continuously improve its
institutional capacity for disaster risk reduction and management. In line with this, the
Philippines has established the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management
Council (NDRRMC), a working group of various government, non-government, civil
sector and private sector organizations, to develop a holistic, comprehensive,
integrated, and proactive disaster risk reduction and recovery program®. In pursuit of
this, NDRRMC engages the private sector for more resources and better
coordination. Volunteers are mobilized in times of disasters, and the NDRRMC
expressly includes their contribution to its NDRRM program. Unfortunately, the
Philippines does not have a sufficient number of trained volunteers, nor does it have
the program to encourage community support and resilience through citizen trainings
for specific skills.

This bill seeks to encourage the culture of volunteerism by providing the
benefit of a Disaster Service Volunteer Leave to certified disaster service volunteers
who are also employees of the government or the private sector. The leave grants

* tp //ennphilippines, com/news/2015/11/25iphilippines-fourth-most-disaster-prone-country html

2 http ww philstar.com/headlines/2015/10/05/1507232/phlippines-losing-p300-b-disasters-yearly

3 RA REPUBLIC ACT No. 10121 AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, PROVIDING FOR THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORK AND INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.


the employee the opportunity to participate and contribute in specialized disaster
relief services for the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in connection with any disaster,
without incurring work absences.

A disaster service volunteer leave has already been institutionalized in various
countries worldwide, in recognition of the need for true community effort and
collective work. It is high time that the same is legislated in the Philippines, a country
most hit by natural disasters.

In light of the foregoing premises, the passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

LUIS RAYMUI IRAY” F; LLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular “486

HOUSE BILL NO. ___

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
GRANTING DISASTER SERVICE VOLUNTEERS
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 of 2017".

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

a) "Department" or "agency' refers to any of the various units of the government
including a department, bureau, office, instrumentality or government-owned
or controlled corporations;

b) “Disaster” includes a local disaster designated at level | or higher in the
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Regulations and Procedures or a national
disaster at level Ill or higher in the PRC 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 PRC.

°)

SEC. 3. Disaster Service Volunteer Leave. —

a) An employee of an agency who is a certified disaster service volunteer shall
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, to
participate in specialized disaster relief services for the Philippine Red Cross
(PRC) in connection with any disaster, upon the request of the PRC 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, night 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 eamed overtime due to such leave.

©) 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 PRC. Duties performed while on disaster
eave 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 PRC 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 PRC.

SEC. 4. Certification as a Disaster Service Volunteer. - No employee shall be
paid during regular work hours in the completion of any training towards certification
as a disaster service volunteer unless such employee uses personal or annual leave,

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Civil Service Commission
(CSC), after consultation and coordination with the government agencies and/or
instrumentalities affected by this Act, including, but not limited to, the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Philippine Red
Cross (PRC), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), shall promulgate and issue the
appropriate rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. 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. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act arc hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,