THE House of Representatives on Wednesday night adopted a resolution honoring the five members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Rescue Personnel who perished while conducting rescue missions during the onslaught of super typhoon Karding.

House Resolution No. 421 has recognized the bravery of Narciso Calayag Jr., Jerson Resurreccion, Marby Bartolome, George Agustin, and Troy Justin Agustin, who all died performing their duties and saving people’s lives in Barangay Kamias in San Miguel, Bulacan at the height of what weather bureaus described as an “explosive” super typhoon.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez himself was first to condole with the families and loved ones of the five rescue workers.

“Lubos po tayong nakikiramay sa pamilya ng limang PDRRMO Rescue Personnel na pumanaw kahapon habang nasa gitna ng rescue operations sa San Miguel, Bulacan,” Romualdez Speaker said.

“Salamat sa inyong kabayanihan Narciso Calayag Jr., Jerson Resurreccion, Marby Bartolome, George Agustin, and Troy Justin Agustin. Today, we honor their lives and we will keep them in our prayers,” he added.

The resolution was introduced by Romualdez, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Tingog party-list Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre.

“While in the conduct of their rescue mission, the rescuers were wading through the flood when a wall collapsed on them and were dragged away by the raging flood,” the resolution read.

“Because of the strong current of the flash flood that swept all five rescuers, none of them survived,” it added.

HR 421 was consolidated with 13 other resolutions, namely HR Nos. 414 of Bulacan Rep. Salvador A. Pleyto, 416 of Cavite Rep. Ramon Jolo B. Revilla III, 427 of Benguet Rep. Eric G. Yap, Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, and ACT-CIS party-list Reps. Edvic Yap, Jeffrey Soriano, and Jocelyn P. Tulfo, and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo; 428 of Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list Rep. Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva, 429 of Bulacan Rep. Ambrosio Cruz, 432 of Lordan G. Suan, and Misamis Oriental Reps. Christian S. Unabia and  Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano; 435 of Pinuno party-list Rep. Ivan Howard A. Guintu; 437 of Quezon City Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” C. Atayde, 438 of Bulacan Rep. Lorna C. Silverio, 442 of Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, 443 of Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto, 447 of Bulacan Reps. Danny A. Domingo and Augustina Dominique “Ditse Tina” C. Pancho; and 450 of Bulacan Reps. Rida Robes and Linabelle Ruth Villarica, Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Ria Vergara, Domingo, Pancho, Silverio, Cruz, and Pleyto.

Super typhoon Karding battered the provinces of Quezon, Aurora, Zambales, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, affecting nearby provinces such as Bulacan and Pampanga, as well as Metro Manila.

“The five rescuers gave their lives in the service of others, thus, they are worthy of commendation and emulation by all Filipinos as they exuded heroism, patriotism, bravery and dedication to public service,” the resolution said.

A copy of the resolution will be furnished to the families left behind by the five PDRRMO rescue workers.