SBMA Clinches Regional Gawad Kalasag Again
Bulacan has been named as Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Council in the Regional Gawad Kalasag for the fourth consecutive time.
“As shown by financial records, Bulacan PDRRMC has properly allocated its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund to pre-disaster activities such as acquiring the necessary equipment to beef up preparedness and response capacities. It has likewise generously extended assistance to other disaster-stricken local government units in the region,” Regional DRRM Council chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Josefina Timoteo said.
Moreover, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Fire Rescue once again bagged the Best in Government Emergency Response Management-Urban Search and Rescue.
“SBMA Fire Rescue was commended for being an exemplary demonstration of a systematic and orderly standard emergency mechanism, mainstreaming and sustaining best practices on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and providing assistance to the community during calamities specifically in contiguous towns and cities in Bataan and Zambales,” Timoteo added.
Other winners were San Fernando as Best City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Tarlac Disaster Assistance and Response Team as Best in Government Emergency Response Management-Basic Search and Rescue.
KALASAG, which stands for KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan, was conceived to encourage participation of various stakeholders in crafting and implementing Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programs aimed at protecting or shielding high risk communities against hazards.
A selection committee composed of representatives from OCD, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Health, Philippine Red Cross and Philippine Information Agency picked the honorees.
Both Bulacan PDRRMC and SBMA Fire Rescue eye for another win in the national level with the former seeking a third straight crown and the latter a back-to-back. (PIA 3)
