Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Constante Foronda Jr, who presided the meeting, presented the salient features of the said proposed bill during the 2024 1st Business Meeting to the members of the council where he said that the proposed bill will benefit the emergency responders in the country once it will be passed.
Foronda said the bill’s objective will provide the emergency responders necessary benefits while performing their duties in their work assignments citing the tragic demise of the “Bulacan Five” rescuers of the Bulacan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office who courageously attempted to save stranded residents of Bulacan to the point of sacrificing their lives.
Under the proposed legislative measure for emergency responders, the author is soliciting support and prayed for its passage to create a better disaster risk reduction and management outcomes by empowering emergency responders and volunteers through creating and filling up plantilla positions with security of tenure in national and local disaster risk and emergency responders to not less than Salary Grade 16.
Once passed, the proposed bill will also increase additional allowances such as hazard allowance, special risk allowance, subsistence allowance, rice subsidy allowance, longevity pay, clothing and laundry allowance, remote assignment allowance, provide health insurance, disability and death allowances.
