05/08/2026
An Open Letter to Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri
βDear Senator Zubiri,
βI write this open letter with deep respect for your steadfast service to the Filipino people and your continuous efforts in advocating for public welfare. I extend this appeal with humility, not to diminish the invaluable contributions of other community workers, but to bring to light an ongoing reality on the ground that urgently needs legislative attention.
βIn recent discussions surrounding local emergency response, much emphasis has been placed on our Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). While we fully recognize and respect the vital role BHWs play in public health, there is a fundamental distinction between routine community healthcare and the high-risk, immediate duties of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) workers.
βDRRM workers are the true first responders and frontliners on the ground. They define what it means to answer a call far beyond the normal boundaries of duty.
βWhile BHWs generally serve standard community office hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, emergency situations do not observe a schedule. When typhoons strike in the dead of night, when violent road accidents happen at midnight, or when sudden flash floods and fires threaten lives without warning, it is the DRRM responders who rush straight into dangerβleaving their own families behind to protect others.
To illustrate the stark reality faced by DRRM personnel on the ground:
24-Hour Operational Shifts: DRRM responders regularly render 24-hour continuous duty to guarantee uninterrupted emergency coverage for the community.
Uncompensated Hours: Despite standing guard for a full 24 hours, the credited hours for compensation remain severely limitedβoften capped at 16 hours for Job Order (JO) workers and 19 hours for Casual employees.
DRRM workers willingly accept these grueling shifts, physical hazards, and sleepless nights out of dedication to saving lives. Yet, their employment security, hazard pay, and welfare mechanisms remain vastly inadequate under current administrative structures.
This is a respectful wake-up callβnot only for the House of Representatives but crucially for the Senate. Our local disaster management personnel continuously stretch the boundaries of duty, serving as the frontline shield of our communities. They deserve more than applause; they require legislative protection, fair compensation, and official statutory recognition.
We humbly urge your good office to champion and expedite the passage of the Magna Carta for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Workers. Providing our DRRM responders with standard hazard pay, night-shift differentials, regular security of tenure, and full credit for every hour rendered on duty is not just a policy matterβit is an act of basic fairness and human justice.
βThank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued dedication to the safety and resilience of our nation.
βRespectfully yours,
βA Dedicated DRRM Worker & Advocate for First Responders
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CTTO
