BAGUIO CITY, July 14 (PIA) – – The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) recognized Mayor Gabino Ganggangan of Sadanga, Mountain Province and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as the region’s exemplary models in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of communities during this COVID pandemic.
The two mayors were honored through the ceremony dubbed “Panangpadayaw iti Bituen ti Amianan “(Recognizing the Star of the North) awarding and recognition of exemplary models of community leadership in times of COVID held at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Conference Hall July 14 as part of the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM).
The Panangpadayaw iti Bituen ti Amianan connotes the North Star as a beacon of hope and light amidst the crisis the world is facing.
Ganggangan is awarded for his leadership wherein Sadanga became a model community in the region and a rising local government unit in the country particularly on the adoption of socio–cultural approaches and local peace building and security efforts in respondse to COVID-19.
Magalong, on the other hand, was honored for his leadership exemplar in DRRM specifically in managing the COVID-19 threat in the city of Baguio thereby promoting resiliency. Through his leadership, Baguio City became a model community not only in the region but in the country notably on the effective use of Information Technology and police investigation tools in conducting contact tracing activities and COVID–19 control and prevention measures.
For his support in consistently upkeeping the efforts of the DRRMC and for his advocacy on proper engineering intervention thru disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction projects that helped uplift the region’s DRRM standards he was recognized as a model of resiliency. The CDRRMC also recognized Department of Public Works and Highways -Cordillera Regional Director Tiburcio Canlas.
CRDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Albert Mogol and guest of honor ACT–CIS Partylist and Benguet Legislative Caretaker Congressman Eric Go Yap presented the plaques of recognition to the awardees.
Mogol expressed the CRDRRMC’s salutations to Ganggangan and Magalong, who through the best practices and notable accomplishments they have shown can truly serve as the “Northern Star” that can light other communities in the Cordillera and in other parts of the country towards the path of disaster- resilient and adaptive communities.
Yap, in his keynote speech, congratulated the awardees as well as all the officials of regional line agencies and the other local chief executives in the region for their efforts in dealing with COVID-19. The Cordillera is truly a bright shining star here in North Philippines as far as dealing with the COVID pandemic is concerned, he said.
For the event, Mogol and Yap also spearheaded the launching of the CRDRRMC “Agdan Ti Laing” (Terrace of Excellence) Coffee Tablebook that showcases the terrace of excellence taken by the Cordillera Regional DRRM Council.
Mogol outlined that every page of the book depicts the CRDRRMC’s milestones, shows every challenge the council had overcome and indicates the strong solidarity among the council member agencies and DRRM partners/stakeholders in the region.
OCD Administrator and National DRRM Council Executive Director USEC Ricardo Jalad, in his inspirational message via video teleconferencing, congratulated the awardees and the members of the CRDRRMC for their continuing commitment and dedication in pushing for disaster resilient communities in the region.
Jalad also enjoined the continuing partnership in pushing for a whole of government and whole of nation approach in overcoming the COVID pandemic and other hazards that may threaten local communities. **Carlito C. Dar, PIA CAR
