The family of a 52-year-old fire chief volunteer who died in a fire after rescuing a dog trapped inside a burning house, has received financial and emotional support from various groups.
During a wake held on Tuesday night, March 27, Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas (ABP) party-list first nominee Jose Antonio "Ka Pep" Goitia visited the grieving family of the fire volunteer Rodolfo Baniqued and extended aid, vowing to help improve the conditions of fire volunteers across the country.
Goitia personally paid tribute to Baniqued’s heroism and assured the family that his sacrifice would not go unnoticed.
In a conversation with the Baniqued family, Goitia promised that ABP would push for key reforms to support first responders, including higher hazard pay, free medical assistance, improved working conditions, and comprehensive insurance for those injured or killed in the line of duty.
He also addressed the immediate needs of fire volunteers, specifically the provision of proper firefighting equipment such as breathing apparatuses to ensure safety during dangerous rescues.
“We stand with the Baniqued family in their time of grief, and we are committed to fighting for the welfare of all fire volunteers,” Goitia said.
The ABP party-list, the only political group dedicated to representing firefighters and fire volunteers, has pledged to advocate for legislative measures, including the Firefighters’ Welfare Act to increase benefits and the Fire Equipment Modernization Bill to secure funds for advanced firefighting tools.