Terror Victims Assistance Act

Weitter of t TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 JUL 15 A11:20 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED LI S. No. 612 Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF TERROR ATTACKS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE 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 still 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. ROBINHOOD PADILLA Senator

THE PHILIP TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DUL 1 5 2025 ₴ First Regular Session A REVER TIME: 11:20 am co SENATE BY: BILLS & INDEX S. No. — 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:

Section 1. Short Tit/e. — This Act shall be known as the "Terror Victims

2 Assistance Act.

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 5 the State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity 6 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. Towards this end, and in cognizance of the need to provide additional safety nets to assist Filipinos in crisis situations, the State shall provide financial, material, psychosocial and referral support and services to individuals and households who have become victims of terrorism and ensure the swift and efficient delivery of such support and services to them.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act:

(a) Assistance to Victims of Terrorism shall refer to the government assistance established under this Act;

(b) Financial Assistance shall refer to assistance to cover expenses for medical, burial, transportation ; (c) Burial Assistance shall refer to assistance to cover expenses incurred for transportation, interment or cremation of the remains of the deceased, including the provision of burial sites; (d) Material Assistance shall refer to assistance provided in the form of physical goods or commodities other than cash; (e) Medical Assistance shall refer to assistance to cover expenses incurred from hospitalization, medicines, doctor's consultation, medical treatment and procedures, and provision of assistive devices; (f) Psychosocial Support shall refer to assistance provided to meet the psychological, emotional, social, or spiritual needs, including interventions to improve the capacity of individuals to cope with the adverse psychosocial impact of calamities, illnesses, deaths, loss of employment or livelihood, and other similar difficult circumstances; (g) Rehabilitation refers to regaining skills or abilities that may have been lost or compromised as a result of acquiring a disability, or due to a change in one's disability or circumstances; (h) Terrorism shall refer to any act/s enumerated in Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11479 otherwise known as "The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020".

Sec. 4. Terror Victim Assistance Program. - The Terror Victim Assistance

Program (TVAP), is hereby established as a government program, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to assist individuals who suffered injury or the family of any person killed as a result of terrorism in the Philippines and abroad.

Sec. 5. Eligible Beneficiaries. - The TVAP shall be intended for the following

victims of terrorism: a. Immediate families of individuals killed; and b. Individuals who suffered injury.

Sec. 6. Types and Forms of Assistance. - Assistance to injured victims or the

immediate families of deceased victims of terrorism shall consist of:

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

Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of

this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within ninety (90) days

2 after the effectivity of this Act, the DSWD shall prepare and issue the Implementing 3 Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

5 regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If for any reason or reasons, any portion or

8 provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, all other parts or 9 provisions not affected shall thereby continue to remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. Approved,