Families of disaster risk responders who die while performing emergency and rescue operations may receive financial assistance under a proposed support measure being encouraged by the Mandaue City Council.
The council approved a resolution urging the city’s 27 barangays to provide line-of-duty death assistance to the surviving legal beneficiaries of their disaster risk responders, regardless of whether they are regular, casual or job order personnel.
Councilor Jennifer del Mar, who authored the resolution, said the measure aims to ensure that the families of responders receive financial support if their loved ones die while serving their communities.
“Para ni sa family, simbako lang naay mahitabo sa atong mga responders,” Del Mar said.
She pointed out that barangay responders are often among the first personnel called during emergencies, particularly fires and floods, which frequently affect communities in Mandaue.
“Kung naay mga problema sa barangay, sila atong unang ginatawag, so how do we protect them in return?” she said.
Del Mar said the proposed assistance would particularly benefit non-regular personnel who may not enjoy the same employment benefits and financial protection as regular employees.
“Kay luoy pod bitaw simbako naay mahitabo, mabyaan ilang family, unya wa silay makuha kay tungod di sila regular employee,” she added.
The resolution does not prescribe a fixed amount, leaving each barangay to determine the assistance it can provide based on its financial capacity.
Del Mar said some barangay officials already extend financial help to the families of deceased responders, but barangay captains often pay for the assistance out of their own pockets.
She hopes the resolution will encourage barangays to establish a system and allocate funds for the benefit of responders’ families.
“Matagaan sila pero obligasyon pa ni Kap nga muhatag gikan sa iyang kaugalingong bulsa… in which naa gyud baya tay obligasyon nga muhatag ta. With this, ma-establish na gyud nga mahatagan sila,” Del Mar said.
The resolution recognizes that barangay-based responders face similar risks while conducting rescue, evacuation and other emergency operations, regardless of their employment status.
While regular employees may receive standard employment benefits, casual and job order personnel may have limited insurance coverage and financial protection for their families.
The measure cited Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which mandates local government units to promote public health and safety, and Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
The latter law emphasizes strengthening disaster preparedness and response capabilities of local government units, including at the barangay level.
Through the resolution, the city council is encouraging all 27 barangays to extend financial assistance to the surviving legal beneficiaries of barangay-paid disaster risk responders who die in the line of duty.
📷 Jen del Mar / Facebook
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