A resolution seeking to honor the five members of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) who died while conducting rescue operations during the onslaught of super typhoon “Karding” has been filed at the Senate.
Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid filed Senate Resolution No. 235, which he filed on Tuesday, September 27, recognized the fatalities from the Bulacan PDRRMO which included George Agustin, Troy Justin Agustin, Marby Bartolome, Jerson Resurreccion, and Narciso Calayag Jr.
Lapid said he is deeply saddened at the demise of the volunteer rescue workers who risked their lives to save others.
“Kaisa po ako sa pag-aalay ng panalangin para sa kanila at sa mga pamilyang kanilang naulila (I am one of those who pray for them and their families),” the senator said.
In the same resolution, Lapid recognized the courage, bravery, humanitarian spirit and selflessness of the fallen rescuers and noted that they should be held in the highest regard, paying the ultimate sacrifice in the name of duty.
“The ultimate sacrifice of the five PDRRMC personnel in service of their people merit the admiration, respect and gratitude not only of the persons they have saved but of the entire country as well,” Lapid expressed.
Other senators who also commiserated with the family of the victims were Senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Robin Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, who is a fellow Bulakenyo.
Estrada, for his part, said he hopes the Executive department will take a second look at bills calling for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) or consider pursuing the creation of a separate agency for this matter.
“In times of disaster, we need our first responders to be well-equipped and well-trained. This incident should be an eye-opener on the need to consider an agency or department in charge of disaster response to oversee not only the needs of the public but the management of personnel,” Estrada said.
Go echoed Estrada’s call and renewed his push for the creation of the proposed DDR.
“Among others, the bill also provides for the hazard pay for all department and local disaster resilience offices. Regardless of the status of employment, all government personnel should be entitled to hazard pay, particularly those doing truly hazardous jobs,” Go said.
“Former president Rodrigo Duterte had done this before, ordering the payment of COVID-19 hazard pay for all personnel occupying regular, contractual, casual, Contract of Service and Job Order posts. I see no reason why we cannot do the same for those involved in disaster response,” Go stressed.