Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 3108

Introduced by Representative Rosanna “Ria” V. Vergara

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Indeed, in more recent years, our country has faced natural calamities that we
have not seen before. Massive flooding, mudslides, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, and “supertyphoons” hit the nation almost on a regular basis, exposing
the lives and the livelihood of our countrymen in great peril.

During those difficult and tragic times, we call on our disaster relief teams
and volunteers to respond. These individuals, who truly deserve to be called
“heroes”, often risk their own life and limb to rescue or give aid or relief to victims of
natural and man-made calamities. By the very nature of their job description, they
expose themselves to various hazards.

Sometime in December 2020, twenty-four (24) officers of the Municipal
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Northern Samar
wrote a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte to appeal for the grant of compensatory
benefits to them for responding to various hazards.

"It is very disheartening and demoralizing that despite our role as ‘cannon
fodder' to all types of hazards, not even Republic Act 10121, nor any other law or
national issuance, provides for the grant of hazard pay or other similar
compensatory benefits to us," the letter stated. !

Sadly, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) Executive Director, Usec. Ricardo Jalad, rejected the appeal for the
simple reason that the grant of compensatory benefits to disaster personnel is not
covered by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF)
that was established under RA 10121.

"CNN Philippines News, NDRRMC: No hazard pay for disaster responders for now, 2 December 2020,
available at cnnphilippines.com,


This incident further highlighted the need to amend the provisions of the
“Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” 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 to their respective
territorial jurisdictions during the State of Calamity declared by the President of the
Philippines.

‘The immediate passage of this proposed legislation is imperative as it is about
time that we truly recognize the heroism, professional commitment and the
sacrifices of our disaster relief workers.

Given the foregoing, this Bill is respectfully submitted for immediate
consideration and approval.

ROSANNA “RIA” V. VERGARA
Representative, 3rd District of Nueva Ecija


29

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3108

House Bill No. ~~

Introduced by Representative Rosanna “Ria” V. Vergara

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10121, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
“THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
ACT OF 2010” FOR THE PURPOSE OF GRANTING HAZARD PAY TO
DISASTER RESPONSE PERSONNEL DURING STATE OF CALAMITY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assentbled:

SECTION 1. A new sub-paragraph (¢) is hereby added in Section 12 of
Republic Act No. 10121, to read as follows:

(e) FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE STATE OF
CALAMITY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
ON THEIR RESPECTIVE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, THE LGU
SHALL GRANT A HAZARD PAY IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO
THOUSAND PESOS (Php2,000.00) PER MONTH TO ALL
PERSONNEL OF THE LDRRMO AND BDRRMC, REGARDLESS OF
THE STATUS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, AND TO ALL ACDVs
ENLISTED TO RESPOND TO THEIR RESPECTIVE TERRITORIAL
JURISDICTIONS.”

SECTION 2. The grant of hazard pay under this Act shall not be subject to any
form of tax consistent with the very purpose of this grant of incentive to local
disaster relief workers.

SECTION 3. The amount necessary for the effective implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Interior and
Local Government under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act.



SECTION 4. The Department of Interior and Local Government shall issue
the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 5. All other laws, decrees, issuances, rules and regulations, or
parts thereof that are not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,