Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. is seeking to protect volunteers from liabilities for the harmful acts they might commit while doing volunteer work in times of emergencies.
(FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Revilla recently filed Senate Bill No. 1511, or the proposed "Emergency Protection Act", to create 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.
In filing the measure, he cited the crucial role of volunteers during emergencies and natural disasters, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, when "armies of volunteers offer support, assistance and compassion to their fellow men, overcoming their own fears and reservation."
Under the bill, no volunteer shall be liable for harm caused by their act if the person was acting in an emergency situation at the scene of an accident; or if he or she was "properly licensed, certified or authorized by the appropriate authorities, either government entitles or nongovernment organizations, for the activities undertaken in an emergency"; or if 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.
The proposed liability protection, however, does not apply to misconduct that constitutes a crime; or if it was committed by a volunteer under the influence of liquor or any dangerous drug; if the volunteers are from business organizations that employ volunteers for pecuniary purposes; or if the volunteers are receiving compensation for volunteering.
Volunteers must also must be accredited by and registered with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) prior to deployment to be exempted from liability, Revilla's bill stated.
The measure also proposed the grant of incentives to volunteers, such as medical treatment, disability or death benefits, special privilege leave benefits, as well as employment merits that may translate to appointment, promotion, salary increase, regularization, or any other similar career and professional advancements.
The PNVSCA shall also provide volunteers trainings, seminars and similar avenues for further education and skills improvement.
SB No. 1511 has been referred to the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development while a counterpart measure has already been approved at the House of Representatives on final reading last March.