Bill increasing Hazard Pay of all Firefighters in the country
Bill increasing Hazard Pay of all Firefighters in the country
“To save lives and protect
properties” – this is the slogan of the Bureau of Fire
Protection in its commitment to serve the public. In response to the ever changing
socio-economic and political aspects of the nation, the Bureau of Fire
Protection is faced with challenge of improving its services to the general
public, decreased appropriation of funds by the government, aging manpower,
procurement of Fire Fighting equipment, and selection of competent new members
of the fire service.
Quezon
City 2nd District Representative Precious Hipolito Castelo has filed House bill
No. 03535 in the 18th Congress that seeks
to increase the hazard pay of all firefighters (Firefighter Hazard Pay Act) in the country of at least twenty percent (20%) of their monthly
basic salary.
In
her explanatory note, the lawmaker noted that “It’s about time that the hazard pay of these unsung heroes got an
upgrade from the meager of ₱12 per day to at least 20% of their basic salary
and the same shall not be subject to tax. It should be a matter of State
policy to uphold the welfare of government workers who offer their lives in the
fulfillment of their duties.”
There
is no gainsaying that firefighters are at high risk on account of the nature of
their work. Their very existence is in jeopardy each time they discharge their
sworn duty. They selflessly risk their lives in order to save those of the
others who are caught in a fire outbreak.
Source:
http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_18/HB03535