Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday said he is supporting the proposed hazard pay for civilian government personnel assigned in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Teodoro made this remark during the House committee of appropriations’ hearing for the 2027 proposed budget of the Department of National Defense.
‘Yes, because they are subjected to risk also and this includes civilian personnel to be deployed in highly critical areas,’ Teodoro replied when asked by Akbayan party-list Rep. Dadah Ismula if he supports measures to pay civilian government personnel deployed in the WPS a hazard pay.
Teodoro pointed out that the hazard pay can also apply to personnel assigned to highly critical areas, such as teachers serving as electoral board members in election hotspot locations.
He acknowledged and raised a concern on how a hazard pay should be applied to the qualified civilian personnel when they also have the welfare of their family to think of.
He cited as an example a first responder deployed in flooded areas where he said that the concerned family may be given housing benefits so the personnel can fulfill their responsibilities to their job.
The House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea earlier approved House Bill No. 8673, filed by the Akbayan Party-list, which seeks to grant hazard pay to personnel deployed in the WPS, along with provision of insurance, medical and psychological services, and maritime safety training