We’re our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves.
— American novelist Tom Robbins
FOR a long time, Filipino firefighters have struggled for support trying to survive from grievous injuries in the ‘line of duty’.
Every time a fire breaks out, firefighters rush toward danger, battling flames amid the thick, blinding smoke, trying to save lives. They face collapsing buildings, scorching heat and life-threatening situations with little regard for their own safety.
These are facts many realize is a reality that can’t be denied—firefighters and even rescuers and volunteers always place their lives on the line, but when they are the ones who get hurt, they often find themselves abandoned by the very system they serve.
Reacting to this, Dr. Jose Antonio ‘Ka Pep’ Goitia, civil leader and first nominee of the Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas (ABP) party-list group, has described the current situation as unacceptable.
He said, “firefighters are expected to be fearless in the face of danger, but when they suffer injuries, they are left to fend for themselves; it’s as if their bravery is taken for granted.”
According to Goitia, for years our firefighters, rescuers and volunteers have been working under hazardous conditions with little or no protection at all and beyond their own courage. Sadly, they receive minimal hazard pay and their insurance coverage remains too small to cover even the basic medical costs they need. In fact, many injured firefighters have had to pay out-of-pocket expenses for treatment and hospitalization, sometimes relying on personal loans or donations just to afford medical care.
“The amount we give them as hazard pay is insulting compared to the risks they take every single day,” he pointed out.
“These are men and women who run into burning buildings while everyone else is running out to escape. And yet, when they are the ones in need, they are met with bureaucratic delays and insufficient support. It’s an injustice we must correct,” he added.
And ABP’s first nominee disclosed that the issue is not even just about low hazard pay because many of them lack government-provided accident and life insurance, which means that if they suffer permanent disability or lose their lives in the line of duty, their families are left with nothing. Those who do have coverage often find that the payouts are far too small to sustain long-term recovery or support their loved ones.
“I have spoken to firefighters who have lost their colleagues in action, only to see their families struggle to make ends meet afterward,” Goitia lamented. “Imagine giving your life to protect others, only for your own family to be left helpless when you’re gone. How is that fair?”
Determined to change this, Goitia’s group has vowed to push for legislation that will create a Firefighters’ Protection and Welfare Fund. This will ensure that firefighters injured in the line of duty receive free medical care, hospitalization benefits and financial assistance. It will also provide disability support and mental health care for those suffering from trauma due to their dedication to duty .
“It is not enough to call them heroes—we need to treat them as heroes,” Goitia stressed. “We need to ensure that when a firefighter falls, there is a safety net to catch them. They should not have to fight two battles—one against fire and another against a system that neglects them.”
Beyond medical and financial aid, Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas is also advocating for better training, upgraded equipment and improved working conditions. Prevention, the group advocates, is just as important as protection.
“If we equip them properly, we reduce the chances of injuries in the first place. If we train them continuously, we make sure they are prepared for the worst. It’s not just about taking care of them after they get hurt; it’s about protecting them from getting hurt at all,” Goitia pointed out as he urged both the government and the private sector to step up and recognize the sacrifices of Filipino firefighters.
“These men and women do not ask for much. They do not hesitate to put their lives on the line for people they don’t even know. The least we can do is ensure that if they get hurt, they are taken care of. The least we can do is show them that their sacrifices matter,” he asserted.
In ending, it is said that for now, our firefighters, rescuer and volunteers across the country continue to respond to emergencies, saving lives and risking their own. The only question that remains is when the rescuers need rescuing and who will answer to their call?
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