The tragic deaths of five rescuers in Bulacan should serve as a wake-up call for the government to address head-on the pandemic of contractual and job order workers or the so-called end-of-contract practice or endo.

This is the call of House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

Mendoza was referring to Narciso Calayag Jr., George Agustin, Marby Bartolome, Jerson Resurreccion and Troy Justin Agustin, the five rescuers from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office who perished in a flash flood on 25 September, while on a rescue mission in San Miguel, Bulacan, during the onslaught of super typhoon "Karding," which wrecked the majority of Luzon.

It was then discovered that the rescuers were only contractual employees.

"Their deaths have placed the spotlight squarely on the unjust and unfair treatment of contractuals under the largest employer of all — the government. We should not let their deaths be in vain," Mendoza stressed.

The labor leader underscored that the five fallen modern-day heroes' putting their lives on the line to save people from death only exemplifies genuine public duty.

"Yet, they are also just five of those hundreds of thousands of job orders, contract of service, and memorandum order of understanding personnel who work hard and passionately sacrifice in the frontlines of public service in the absence of an employer-employee relationship despite their performance of vital and essential functions," lamented the deputy speaker.

Mendoza cited data from the Civil Service Commission showing that there are 177,994 open plantilla positions in government and 648,215 contractual workers, the majority of whom work at the local government level.

He stressed that government workers do most agencies' "legwork" and heavy lifting. While they are the frontliners, they neither have an employer-employee relationship with the government nor security of tenure.

Bakas Parangal conferred

The five rescuers in Bulacan who died on duty were conferred with the 'Bakas Parangal ng Kagitingan' award by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The members of the rescue squad were found dead in San Miguel town in the wake of super typhoon "Karding" on Monday, after trying to fulfill their search and rescue mission in Sitio Galas, Barangay Camias, and nearby Barangay Tigpala in San Miguel town.

Accident amid 'Karding'

Rushing floodwater swept them away, resulting in their deaths, while preparing the lifeboats to rescue residents around 4 a.m. Monday. At around 7 a.m., the rescuers' bodies were found in Sitio Banga Banga, Barangay Camias.

They were among the first recorded fatalities in the "Karding" aftermath.

The NDRRRMC and Bulacan PDRRMO paid tribute to the fallen rescuers, ensuring the bereaved families with cash assistance.

Civil Defense Administrator and NDRRMC executive director, Undersecretary Raymundo Ferrer, said the five rescuers have proven Bulacan's "Land of the Heroes" description.

"I believe that our rescuers have confirmed that Bulacan is the true Land of the Heroes. I hope that the heroism they showed will be an example for our young people to emulate. I am also thankful that Bulacan is an example of volunteerism in our country," Ferrer said.

Abalos pays last respect

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. paid his last respects to the five rescuers as he visited their wake in Bulacan Capitol Gym in Malolos, Bulacan Friday night.

LADE KABAGANI AND GLEN JACOB JOSE
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