Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said government personnel doing hazardous jobs should receive hazard pay as the nation mourns the death of five Bulacan rescuers that perished in the line of duty during the height of Super Typhoon “Karding” on Sunday.
Go co-sponsored a Senate resolution honoring the five rescuers who drowned during the onslaught of Karding in Central Luzon. The deceased were identified as George Agustin, Troy Justin Agustin, Marby Bartolome, Jerson Resurrecion and Narciso Calayag Jr.
“It is an honor to co-sponsor the resolution honoring the heroism of the five rescuers who braved Super Typhoon ‘Karding’ and died in an effort to bring aid to affected families in San Miguel, Bulacan,” said Go in his speech on Tuesday .
The five, all members of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, were rescuing trapped residents when they were swept away by a flash flood. Their remains were later found in Sitio Banga Banga, Barangay Camias at around 7 am on September 26.
Go said he was considering a measure that would provide benefits and security of tenure to long-term government employees.
He cited the order of former president Rodrigo Duterte to give hazard pay to all government employees, including casual workers on duty during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I see no reason why we cannot do the same for those involved in disaster response. This is the least we could do for all our heroic public servants,” the senator said.
Senators Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Robinhood Padilla and Ma. Josefa Imelda “Imee” filed separate Senate resolutions to honor the fallen rescuers.