Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operations Nicanor E. Faeldon has underscored that disaster management is everybody’s concern.
In his keynote address during the 20th Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) regional awards held at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) in Iloilo City on July 27, Faeldon said that disaster management transcends religion, political beliefs and “whatever we have in our life.”
However, he said, due to that desire to protect them, “we do not want to call those hard decisions.”
“Not calling those hard decisions will put them further in harm’s way,” Faeldon added.
He also urged stakeholders to “ponder” on what improvement had been done in disaster management after 20 years.
Meanwhile, entries from Negros Occidental and Capiz bagged most of the awards during the regional Gawad Kalasag.
Entries from Negros Occidental won the best disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) council for the independent-component city represented by the Bago City DRRM council; barangay DRRM committee (rural) by Barangay Busay, Bago City; best primary school, Gen. Juan A. Araneta Elementary School, Bago City; and special recognition for Local Government Emergency Management (GEM) and Response Teams to Bago City.
The province of Capiz won the best municipal DRRM council for fourth to sixth class, represented by the town of Dumalag; best higher educational institutions by the Capiz State University in Roxas City; best hospital (local government unit) by the Bailan District Hospital in Pontevedra town; best hospital (private) represented by the St. Anthony College of Roxas City, Inc; and special recognition for the private sector (business/corporate) won by the Robinsons Place in Roxas.
Meanwhile, the province of Aklan won the best provincial DRRM council and the town of Banga for best municipal DRRM for first to third class category.
Bacolod City won the best city DRRM for highly-urbanized city while the Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade based in Bacolod bagged the best volunteer organization award.
In Iloilo, the Granada National High School-Ballesteros Campus in Carles and Barangay Nalundan Day Care Center in Guimbal town won the best secondary public high school and early learning center categories, respectively.
Iloilo City’s Barangay Buntatala won the best barangay DRRM committee for urban category while the Diocesan Social Action Center in San Jose, Antique was awarded best civil society organization.
The champion received P50,000 and a plaque while the second and third placers also brought home P30,000 and P15,000, respectively.
Three regional winners – St. Anthony’s College, Capiz State University and the Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade – also made it to the national finals. (PNA)