Pampanga bags 5th regional ‘Kalasag’

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1742082/Pampanga/Local-News/Pampanga-bags-5th-regional-Kalasag
• Tuesday, May 8, 2018

(JTD)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Pampanga once again earned the award in the 20th Regional Gawad Kalasag (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan).

Capitol’s fifth regional “Kalasag” award comes after the PDRRMC bagged it from 2013 to 2017.

In an announcement over the weekend, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) named Pampanga winner in provincial category, along with Angeles City (highly urbanized city category), City of San Fernando (Component City category), Baler in Aurora (first-third class municipality category), and Barangay Pagas in Cabanatuan City (barangay-rural category).

The winners were selected by a committee composed of representatives from OCD, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), Commission on Higher Education, and Department of Science and Technology

“Gawad Kalasag recognizes exceptional contributions of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) practitioners, groups or institutions in promoting and implementing significant and gender-sensitive DRRM, Climate Change Adaptation programs and innovations that build community resiliency in the long-term,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director and RDRRMC chairperson Marlou Salazar said.

Last April, the regional Gawad Kalasag validation team visited the Capitol and reviewed the best practices of the PDRRMC headed by Angelina Blanco. The team was composed of Michael Dumlao from Office of Civil Defense III, Glenn Cosio from the DILG, Muffy Gopez from Neda, Estrella Salta from the DOH, and Carlo Lorenzo Datu from PIA.

Vice Governor Dennis Pineda congratulated the PDRRMO for preparing the requirements needed for the award. He also said that it is a fitting reward for the efforts laid by the Provincial Government in preventing and responding to various disasters and situations.

“This is just a bonus if we win the award. We are always ready for any disaster or calamity and we will never get tired of serving people,” he said.

Other awardees include for school victors Alasasin Elementary School in Mariveles, Bataan (public primary category); Camp Tinio National High School in Cabanatuan City (public secondary category); and National Child Development Center of Baler Central School in Aurora (early learning center category).

Gawad Kalasag for hospitals honorees include Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City (national government managed category); Mariveles Mental Hospital in Bataan (specialty hospital category); and James Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City (local government unit managed category).

The San Fernando Fire and Rescue Unit is the recipient of the special recognition for local government emergency management and response team.