A bill seeking to declare June as the month celebrating the heroic acts of the country’s frontline workers has been filed in the Senate.
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Senate Bill No. 1775 or the proposed “National Frontliners Month Act” which he filed seeks to recognize the significant contributions and heroism of frontline workers in providing essential needs, protecting the public welfare, and keeping the nation safe during times of calamities, disasters, and other crisis.
The bill, the senator said aims to propose a month-long celebration recognizing the contribution of healthcare workers, food delivery drivers, supermarket workers, restaurant cooks, security guards, local government employees, barangay officials, social and government workers, agriculture and fishery workers, and police and military personnel.
The measure also includes logistics and social workers, storekeepers, garbage collectors, bank employees, media practitioners, and employees in the utilities sector such as energy and water as frontliners.
Gatchalian said celebrating it during the month of June is significant as it is also the month the Philippines commemorate its independence from Spanish colonial rule.
“Bilang pagpupugay at pagpapahalaga sa kabayanihan ng ating mga frontliners, isinusulong nating kilalanin ang kanilang mga sakripisyo sa pamamagitan ng isang pormal na pagdiriwang tuwing buwan ng Hunyo, kung saan kinikilala rin natin ang mga nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay para sa ating kalayaan (In honor and recognition of the heroic deeds of our frontliners, we are pushing for greater recognition of their sacrifices by formally celebrating their contribution to society every month of June, when we also commemorate the lives of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom),” Gatchalian said.
“Nararapat lamang na ipakita natin sa ating mga bagong bayani ang pinakamataas na pagkilala lalo na’t sila ang nangunguna sa ating laban sa pandemyang dulot ng COVID-19, (It’s only fitting to show to our new heroes the highest regard especially since they were at the forefront in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stressed.
The lawmaker noted these frontliners chose to continuously report for duty amid the threat of the pandemic, risking their lives—including the safety of their families—to keep the country safe and the economy moving.
He added it is essential to sustain this recognition even if these frontliners have been repeatedly hailed as heroes amid the pandemic.
Under the bill, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be tasked to coordinate with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and other government agencies in conducting activities and programs that will promote the values these frontliners espouse.
Granting distinction to major and commendable efforts, response, and measures in local government units (LGUs), including those by barangay officials and employees, would also be part of the proposed celebration, according to the senator.