Bontoc, Mtn. Prov. – The Provincial Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) of Mountain Province garnered Third Place under the Best Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council category during the 19th Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan Awards held at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria last December 11, 2017.
Mountain Province PDRRMC is the lone qualifier from the CAR and one among the only three Provincial LGUs nationwide to qualify for the most coveted award in terms of excellence DRRM. Isabela and Dinagat Islands PDRRMCs garnered, first and second place, respectively.
As a prize, the PDRRMC was conferred the Gawad KALASAG National Award Plaque of Recognition and the amount of PhP 50,000.00. The cash award is to be spent for DRRM-related activities.
Said award was for the council’s mainstreaming DRR and climate change adaptation by providing capacity building trainings and sustaining it with projects and programs; for strengthening disaster preparedness through information education campaign materials and through various media and development of its multi-hazard Early Warning System; and for instilling the bayanihan spirit during emergencies and disasters.
“This is a great Christmas gift for our people, especially to all who have worked and sacrificed much for the improvement of our policies, programs and services to our people in terms of DRRM and climate change mitigation,” said Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr.
In his earlier pronouncements, Gov. Lacwasan lauded the members of the council, volunteer responders and all other stakeholders for their selflessness that resulted in the enhancement of services and programs which the Provincial Government spearheads.
“The awards that have been conferred to our Provincial Government are results of the concerted efforts of the PLGU, our partner agencies and the private sector,” he added.
Atty. Edward F. Chumawar, Jr., Mountain Province’s Provincial DRRM Officer in a brief interview also thanked all stakeholders for their cooperation and support.
“We are very lucky that we have a very supportive governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan for their very strong support to the two-year old Provincial DRRMO. Without their guidance and backing, the PDRRMO would not have been able to implement its programs.
We also have been blessed with the participation and cooperation of our private sector and our partner agencies,” Chumawar said.
Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and USec Ricardo B. Jalad of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) were one in lauding the Provincial Government of Mountain Province and its headship for making it to the national awards despite its meager resources as compared to its other counterparts in the country.
Lorenzana is the Chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Jalad is the Executive Director of the same council.
Also, OCD-CAR Regional Director Andrew Alex Uy expressed high hopes that Mountain Province can further excel in the field of DRRM. Noteworthy, he said, is the fact that this is the first time that Mountain Province DRRMC participated in the 2017 National Search for Gawad KALASAG awards and yet, it was able to bag third place.
Other awardees from CAR includes: the University of the Cordilleras (represented by UC-BOT Chairman Jesus Benjamin D. Salvosa and Vice President for Administration Leonarda Aguinalde) for winning First Place under the Best Higher Education Institution Category; La Trinidad, Benguet (represented by Mayor Romeo K. Salda and Vice Mayor Joey Jovencio L. Marrero) under the Best 1st-3rd Class Municipal DRRM category and the Lepanto National High School for the Best Public Rural School Category (represented by its school officials headed by Principal Nestor Dalay-on).**Mountain Province LGU
