Recognizing the dangers faced by Filipinos on the frontlines of calamities, Senator Bong Go filed Senate Bill No. 669 at the start of the 20th Congress to amend Republic Act No. 10121, or the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”.
The proposed measure aims to grant hazard pay to disaster response personnel and accredited community disaster volunteers during a declared state of calamity — and crucially, ensure that this hazard pay will be tax-exempt.
Go stressed that the Philippines’ geographical location makes it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. As major parts of the country are experiencing inclement weather now, once again, disaster response personnel are risking their lives to save others.
“The Philippines is prone to tropical cyclones due to its geographical location which often results in casualties to human life and destruction to crops and properties,” the veteran legislator explained.
“Additionally, the Philippines is also one of the most vulnerable countries when it comes to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes as it is located along the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ where earthquakes and volcanic activities are relatively frequent due to plate tectonic movements,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
Framing the bill as a necessary recognition of their sacrifice, the senator underscored the heroism of first responders and emergency personnel who put their lives on the line in every disaster.
“Blood, sweat, tears, and lives were sacrificed in the line of service to save another.”
“At the forefront of the response to these disasters are the first responders, first aiders, emergency care workers, and emergency response teams. Blood, sweat, tears, and lives were sacrificed in the line of service to save another,” he said.
“For this reason, it is just proper to compensate the efforts of the emergency frontliners. These modern-day heroes sacrifice their lives for others and help mitigate negative impacts caused by calamities,” Go continued in the bill’s explanatory note.
This call for fair compensation and better benefits for frontliners echoes his earlier move during the 19th Congress when he co-sponsored Senate Resolution No. 233 honoring the five heroic members of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) who died on September 25, 2022, during Super Typhoon Karding.
These brave rescuers — George Agustin, Troy Justin Agustin, Marby Bartolome, Jerson Resurrecion, and Narciso Calayag Jr. — lost their lives while saving residents from rising floodwaters in San Miguel, Bulacan.
“SBN 669 seeks to amend RA 10121 so that local government units (LGUs) will be mandated to grant hazard pay to their disaster response personnel and volunteers during calamities.”
Go explained that SBN 669 seeks to amend RA 10121 so that local government units (LGUs) will be mandated to grant hazard pay to their disaster response personnel and volunteers during calamities if enacted into law.
“On account of risking their own lives to rescue and give aid to Filipinos affected by natural and man-made calamities, there is a need to amend the provisions of Republic Act No. 10121… to mandate the local government units (LGUs) to grant hazard pay to the personnel of their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs) and Barangay Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BRRMCs) as well as all accredited community disaster volunteers (ACDVs) enlisted in their respective territorial jurisdictions during the State of Calamity declared by the President of the Philippines,” he pointed out.
The proposed law recommends that during the entirety of a declared state of calamity, all LDRRMO personnel, regardless of employment status, and all accredited volunteers, will be entitled to monthly hazard pay. Importantly, the bill proposes that this hazard pay shall not be subject to any tax, emphasizing that this is meant to serve as a direct incentive and acknowledgment of their hazardous work.
The measure also proposes the funding mechanism wherein the amount necessary for the implementation shall be charged against the funds of provincial LGUs who supervise qualified frontline personnel.
Through this bill, Go seeks to institutionalize proper recognition and fair compensation for the risks shouldered by those who protect Filipinos in times of crisis — part of his larger advocacy for stronger disaster resilience nationwide.
His legislative record reflects this commitment. Go is the principal author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which mandates the establishment of permanent, disaster-resilient evacuation centers nationwide.
He has also refiled Senate Bill No. 173, or the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience Act, which seeks to create a dedicated agency to unify disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation under one institution.
