OCD announces Region 9 Gawad Kalasag winners

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=977868
• Wednesday, April 5, 2017

(PNA), TPGJR/RGAAG

ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 5 (PNA) - The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday announced here the winners of the 2016 Gawad Kalasag award for Region 9.

Kalasag stands for Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan. The winners excelled in disaster preparedness.

The winners are the following: Zamboanga del Norte, provincial level; Zamboanga City, highly urbanized city category; Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, for first to third class municipalities; and, Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte, for fourth to sixth class towns.

For component cities, the winners are: Pagadian City, first place; Dipolog City, second place; and, Dapitan City, third place. Barangay Madasigon in Molave, Zamboanga Del Sur also received an award.

OCD Assistant Regional Director Emilia Vasquez-Julhajan said the regional winners, especially the first placers, are making the necessary preparation as they will represent the region in the national competition.

Julhajan said the Gawad Kalasag is an annual search for excellence in disaster risk reduction management (DRRM).

The search was designed to encourage participation of various stakeholders in crafting and implementing DRRM related policies, strategies and programs to protect or shield hazard prone communities from adverse impact of natural and human-induced calamities.

The regional winners will receive plaque and cash prizes--PhP50,000, first prize; PhP30,000, second prize; and, PhP20,000, third prize.

Julhajan said the cash prize must be used by the winners for disaster risk reduction management activities or projects.

Julhajan said the awarding of the regional winners will be held during the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month in July.