LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in its regular session on February 26 approved a resolution manifesting strong support of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan for the Magna Carta for Public Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Workers.
Authored by SP Member Vici M. Ventanilla, the resolution stated that there is no legislative measure that has been enacted with special reference to the welfare of all disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) workers in the country in consonance with Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010, being the legislative anchor of DRRM councils from local to national levels and the Office of Civil Defense.
“There are no laws or policies explicitly defining the DRRM workers—the first formally used in the profession in 2010 after the passage of RA 10121,” the resolution partly disclosed.
The resolution likewise noted that the NDRRMC presented a magna carta during the conduct of the NDRM Regional Summit of 2023 and advised all DRRMOs to support the passage of the bill by asking for appropriate legislative actions to ensure its approval.
As such, the resolution cited that the Pangasinan Association of Local Disaster Risk Reduction Officers Inc. requested the crafting of a resolution manifesting the strong support of the provincial government of Pangasinan for the Magna Carta for Public DRRM Workers.
“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan members strongly support and believe that the approval of this measure will bring about positive changes, including sustainability and the security of tenure of offices for the local DRRM workers who are risking their lives to deliver flawless rescue operations and to ensure zero casualties during man-made and natural calamities, especially during the sharp rise of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the resolution also stated. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)
