BONTOC, Mountain Province -The Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) has funded the enrolment of 98 responders to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Membership Program.
As Premium Platinum members, the 98 responders get access to all Red Cross services in times of emergencies, sickness, and disasters. In addition, members who meet unfortunate situations can get reimbursement for accidental death, disablement and dismemberment, unprovoked murder, accidental medical reimbursement, daily hospital allowance, and accidental burial assistance.
The 98 responders who received their Premium Platinum Card paid by the Bontoc LGU include water delivery truck owners or operators, tourist guides who are trained responders, and community responders including members of the Bontoc Emergency Response Team (BERT). The said cards were turned over by Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Johanna Padaen to the recipients during the First Quarter Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council (MDRRMC) meeting on February 20, 2024.
Mayor Tudlong who is also the Chairperson of the MDRRMC remarked that this initiative is in recognition of the hard work, efforts, and volunteerism of the responders who put their lives at stake whenever an untoward incident occurs.
“Our community volunteers and responders are always on the frontline and on the ground risking their lives . From typhoons that have caused landslides, rock falls, and an increase in the volume of water along the Chico River; to earthquakes; vehicular traffic accidents; health crisis, other inevitable incidents; and crowd-drawing activities and gatherings, they are there to assist us and to respond around the clock. Thus, it is proper that we recognize their efforts too, by enrolling them as Red Cross members and with accident insurance coverage,” the mayor added.
In an interview, Padaen explained that P97,600 has been paid by the Bontoc LGU for the membership of the 98 recipients to the PRC’s Membership Program. It covers one-year membership, which is from September 2023- September 2024. She added that the Bontoc LGU has allocated from its budget the renewal of the membership of 98 responders for the year 2024. All of these are charged under the 5% Calamity Fund of the Bontoc LGU.
Meanwhile, a community volunteer who is one among those who received the Premium Platinum Card thanked the Bontoc LGU adding that recognizing their efforts means a lot them.
It is to be noted that this is the first time that the Bontoc LGU has allocated from its budget a fund to cover the enrolment of responders to the PRC’s Membership Program. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay
