West PH Sea: House panel OKs hazard pay for civilian gov’t workers

MANILA, Philippines – A House of Representatives committee has approved a proposal granting hazard pay to civilian government personnel deployed in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), as a lawmaker pushed for a P10,000 risk pay amid dangerous conditions brought by foreign intrusion over the contested area.

During its hearing on Tuesday, the House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea approved House Bill (HB) No. 8673, which also seeks to provide insurance, medical and psychological services, and maritime safety training for civilian personnel deployed in portions of the WPS claimed by China.

During the deliberations, Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez raised the possibility of granting at least P10,000 in hazard pay per deployment. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) chief Elizer Salilig said the amount could be reasonable.

“We were given P5,000 back in 2016. Doubling that to P10,000 seems right,” Salilig told lawmakers in Filipino.

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Lawmakers also introduced other amendments to the bill, including expanding its coverage to include local government officials of municipalities within WPS and how much will be provided in the hazard pay, though details weren’t immediately released.

But state counsel Leilani Fajardo-Aspiras said the bill is an affirmation from Congress that the country’s first line of defense does not only involve uniformed personnel, but other civilian government employees who risk their safety to ensure maritime security.

“Through this proposed legislation, Congress affirms that the defense of the nation is not formed solely by uniformed personnel, but also by countless civilian public servants who quietly and courteously perform critical missions in support of maritime security… and assertion of Philippine sovereign rights,”  Fajardo-Aspiras said.

She said the interagency government committee National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea supported the proposal, adding that the bill provides additional assistance for those deployed to a such a “high-risk operational environment.”

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China has been insisting on its nine-dash line claim, which covers a large portion of the South China Sea. However, the nine-dash line overlaps with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and the territorial seas of other Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

However, a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim, finding no legal or historical basis for it.

“Recognizing the strategic importance of the West Philippine Sea and the invaluable contributions of civilian personnel to the protection of the nation’s maritime rights, it is imperative that the State provide appropriate compensation and welfare support,” HB No. 8673 , authored by Akbayan Reps. Percival Cendaña, Chel Diokno and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.

Competing claims between the Philippines and China in the disputed waters have led to frequent confrontations that involve the use of water cannons and sideswiping maneuvers by Chinese ships against Philippine vessels.

“Civilian government personnel assigned to the West Philippine Sea often face hazardous working conditions, including severe weather, extended deployments at sea, and exposure to security threats due to heightened geopolitical tensions in the region,” it added. /dl