Pampanga PDRRMC bags Regional Gawad KALASAG Award

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2661444875577/pampanga-pdrrmc-bags-regional-gawad-kalasag-award
• Saturday, October 17, 2015

By Marie Joy L. Simpao (CLJD/MJLS-PIA 3)

CLARK FREEPORT (PIA) -- Pampanga took home Monday the Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) accolade of the Regional Gawad KALASAG 2015.

Vice Governor Dennis Pineda and PDRRM Officer Angie Blanco received the award in behalf of the council.

“KALASAG, which stands for KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan, is the National and Regional DRRMC’s recognition scheme in its search for excellence on DRRM and humanitarian assistance, initiated in 1998,” Office of Civil Defense Regional Director and Regional DRRMC Chair Josefina Timoteo said.

It is the mechanism in obtaining sustained commitment and support by recognizing exceptional contributions of DRRM practitioners in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of nations and communities to disaster risks.

“KALASAG aims to recognize the outstanding performance of Local DRRMCs, Civil Society Organizations and major stakeholders in promoting and implementing significant DRRM and Climate Change Adaptation programs and innovations; and heroic acts of individuals, groups or institutions during natural or human-induced disasters,” Timoteo added.

Joining Pampanga as Central Luzon’s bets to the national search are Olongapo as Best City DRRMC (Highly-urbanized category), San Fernando as Best City DRRMC (Component category), Dipaculao in Aurora as Best Municipal DRRMC (1st-3rd class category), and Pagas in Cabanatuan City as Best Barangay DRRM Committee (Urban category).

Also, Olongapo Fire as Best in Government Emergency Response Management (Urban Search and Rescue category), Tarlac DART as Best in Government Emergency Response Management (Basic Search and Rescue category), Lazaro Francisco Elementary School in Cabanatuan City as Best Public School (Urban category), Camp Tinio National High School in Cabanatuan City as Best Public School (Rural category), and James Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City as Best Hospital (Government category).

Recognitions were likewise conferred for being runners-up to the search to Cabanatuan and Malolos CDRRMCs (Component City category), SBMA Fire (Government Emergency Response Management Urban Search and Rescue category), SAFRU-City of San Fernando and Bulacan Rescue (Government Emergency Response Management Basic Search and Rescue) category, and Cupang Elementary School in Balanga City and Palayan Central School (Public School-Urban).