In times of disasters and calamities, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) personnel are among the first to be deployed for emergency response. That is why it pains OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo to learn from the news of the massive corruption involving flood control projects in the government.

During a rare show of emotion, Castillo shared how several government officials deprive national and local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) workers of their future, safety, and even lives by pocketing billions, if not trillions, of pesos in flood control funds.

“Bilang mga DRRM workers dito sa national hanggang sa local, masakit po sa amin na itong mga proyekto siyempre na dapat eh nakakatulong sa trabaho namin, sa halip nagagamit ng iilan para... kumbaga sa pakinabang lang ng iilan, nakakapagpahirap sa karamihan (As DRRM workers, both at the national and local levels, it is very painful for us that these projects, which are supposed to help us in our work, are instead being used by a few for their own benefit, to the detriment of the majority),” Castillo said, his voice breaking, and stopping at some point to gather composure, during an interview at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC), Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

He stressed that disaster response personnel sacrifice their safety and even their lives to protect communities from calamities. He noted how corruption in infrastructure projects not only wastes resources but also undermines the very systems designed to reduce risk.

“Magmula sa national DRRM workers hanggang sa local DRRM workers, ang hirap po nito na kumbaga nalalagay sa peligro, sa sakripisyo ang aming buhay para mapangalagaan ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan (From national down to local DRRM workers, it is very difficult for us because our lives are being put in danger, and we make sacrifices to safeguard the safety of our fellow citizens),” the OCD spokesperson said.

In past disasters, several responders lost their lives while braving dangers to save others.

George Agustin, Troy Justin Agustin, Marby Bartolome, Jerson Resurrecion, and Narciso Calayag Jr., members of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), drowned when their boat capsized while attempting to save trapped residents during the onslaught of Typhoon Karding in San Miguel, Bulacan in September 2022.

Four Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel also went missing after their boat overturned during a rescue mission in Cagayan at the height of Typhoon Egay in 2023. The aluminum boat they used for search and rescue was found but the coastguardians weren’t until now.

Rescuers and assisting military personnel were also counted among dead and missing in Metro Manila and nearby provinces during Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

“Masakit po ito sa amin na ganito ang nangyayari na mayroong mga iilan na naaabuso itong mga dapat sana ay makakatulong sa aming trabaho (It hurts us deeply when these resources, which should have been helpful to our work, are being abused by a few),” Castillo said.