Insurance for 5 thousand disaster volunteers pushed

CEBU, Philippines — At least 5,000 emergency and disaster volunteers in Cebu City are reportedly not covered by an insurance.

This prompted Cebu City Council to ask the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) to insure the disaster volunteers.

“As first responders to man-made and natural calamities, disaster volunteers are constantly exposed to occupational hazards making it imperative to insure disaster volunteers,” read the resolution authored by Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak.

The volunteers include firefighters, quick response team, city response team, paramedics, emergency medical service team, radio operators, and command control center’s surveillance operators, among others.

Tumulak said the group personal accident insurance expenses could be charged against the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund last year.

CCDRRM office is tasked to organize and supervise the local emergency response team, which helps in the response and recovery operations in the city, he said.

He cited Republic Act 10121 (he Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010) that states that all disaster volunteers should be assured of a group personal insurance plan, which covers bodily injury, death or disablement arising from accidental and external cause.

The volunteers’ insurance plan should cover the following benefits, but not limited to accidental deaths and disablement/dismemberment, medical reimbursement, murder and unprovoked assault, coverage should be 24 hours on and off the job, injuries sustained while riding as passenger of any vehicles, dog and snake bites.  KQD (FREEMAN)