Tax-exempt hazard pay pushed for disaster responders of LGUs
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go wants local government personnel to enjoy a tax-free hazard pay while responding to calamities.
Go’s proposed Senate Bill No. 669 mandates local government units (LGUs) that have declared a state of calamity to grant the incentive to their disaster response personnel and volunteers.
In his bill that seeks to amend the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, all personnel of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices and all accredited volunteers will be entitled to a monthly hazard pay.
Since it takes the form of a direct incentive, the benefit should be tax-exempt, said Go.
“It is just proper to compensate the efforts of the emergency front-liners. These modern-day heroes sacrifice their lives for others and help mitigate negative impacts caused by calamities,” he said.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, for his part, is pushing for two measures to revolutionize the country’s disaster preparedness and response system following the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm “Crising.”
Estrada has refiled his bill seeking to create a Department of Disaster Resilience, which will unify, strengthen and streamline disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts.
The senator has also proposed the enactment of Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile Act, which seeks to establish a nationwide network of food banks and relief supplies for swift deployment to calamity-stricken areas.
