Pangasinan receives 'Gawad Kalasag' Exceptional DRRM Award

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=835361
• Monday, December 7, 2015

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Dec. 7 (PNA) -- Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. proudly dedicated to all Pangasineses the feat accorded the province of Pangasinan by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) when it was recipient of the coveted "Gawad Kalasag" Exceptional DRRM Award.

DRRM refers to Disaster Risk and Reduction Management.

The award was received by Col. Luchinvar Oro, Provincial DRRM officer, in behalf of the province of Pangasinan for its exemplary performance in disaster risk reduction and management activities to all Pangasinenses.

Espino expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who showed concern for fellow Pangasinenses during the flag-raising ceremony today (Dec. 7) at the capitol plaza.

As one of the highlights of the annual Banuar Ti Amianan (Heroes of the North), the “Gawad Kalasag Exceptional DRRM Service Award,” given to the province is a manifestation of Pangasinenses’ unity, resiliency, and preparedness during the onset of emergency, the Governor stressed.

In a ceremony at Ariana Hotel in Baung, La Union last Dec. 4, Pangasinan bested three other provinces of Region 1 as it has successfully implemented the various disaster programs and activities based on the four thematic areas which are “mitigation and prevention, preparedness, response, repair and rehabilitation.”

Based on the visit of the OCD team headed by Director Melchito De Castro after Typhoon Lando’s wrath last October, Pangasinan through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and its various line agencies were hailed for the proactive response that the offices rendered to secure the lives of people who were directly affected by the typhoon especially those living within high risk areas like flood-prone and low-lying sites.

“The OCD commended the province not only because of our quick response during the onset of the typhoon but also for our proactive action leading to the repair and rehabilitation of various damages incurred by the calamity,” Gov. Espino disclosed.

They saw that trees were toppled down in the premises of the capitol and we introduced the immediate rehabilitation and repair,” he noted further, stating that several rehabilitation projects are on deck to repair whatever infrastructure were destroyed that time.

Oro said that the programs done by the Pangasinan PDRRMC have been very effective and timely that lessened the ill-effects or damages to structure and affectation to human lives and agriculture.

The Kalasag and Banuar Ti Amianan awards are being given by the OCD1 to agencies and individuals for their selfless and gallant acts and active participation in the disaster mitigation efforts.