Senatorial candidate Ben Tulfo seeks to provide life insurance for barangay volunteers in a bid to prioritize their welfare.
Tulfo said this as he addressed the municipalities in Nueva Ecija specifically the towns of Talavera and Rizal, where he was invited as a guest speaker.
“What happens to your family if you die as a volunteer frontliner during a disaster? There is no life insurance for this dangerous work,” he said.
The gatherings were attended by barangay officials, residents, and students who listened to Tulfo’s advocacy for better support systems for disaster responders.
Tulfo has been aggressively pushing for the establishment of the Department of Disaster and Emergency, a separate agency dedicated to disaster response, immediate relief distribution, and post-calamity rehabilitation.
However, he emphasized that such initiatives could only be realized with the help of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), under the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), as well as the cooperation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“We must give dignity and importance to barangay volunteer frontliners under the DILG and other agencies. Most barangay volunteers receive only allowances, not salaries. Currently, barangay tanods and other volunteers receive a maximum of PHP 1,000 per month,” Tulfo stated.
“If God permits, I will review existing laws on disaster and emergency response. The welfare of volunteers is my priority because they risk their lives,” he added.
Tulfo is seeking better benefits and insurance for barangay volunteers, particularly those frequently affected by natural calamities.