ZamboNorte,DipologCity DRRMC lead 2015 KALASAG awardees

By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY - As part of this year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-9, in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG)-9 gave due recognition to the readiness of different local government units (LGUs) to respond during the occurrence of any disaster.

Duringthe Regional Kalasag Awarding ceremony held at the Zamboanga del Norte Convention and  Sports Center here on July 14, Zamboanga del Norte LGU was adjudged as Best Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, provincial level category with Zamboanga del Sur as second placer.

Dipolog City was declared as Best Component City DRRMC; Zamboanga City as Best Highly Urbanized City DRRMC; Molave, Zamboanga del Sur as Best 1st to 3^rd Class Municipality DRRMC and Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte as Best 4^th to 6^th Class Municipality DRMMC.

Republic Act 10131 requires all LGUs to establish a DRRM Office and a disaster operationscenter with permanent staff and volunteers.

OCD-9 Regional Director Emelia V. Julhajanextended her congratulations to the winners as she wished them luck in the next level of competition. The regional winners in each category will be the region’s representative to the national level.

Meanwhile, LGUs and schools which participated in the Kalasag Field validation were also given plaques of recognition.

DILG-9 Assistant Regional Director, Mr. Pedro Cuevas, who represented DILG-9 Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil said the GawadKalasag is the country’s premier award that gives due recognition to the LGUs’ outstanding performance in the field of disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction and management,disaster prevention and mitigation, including monetary assistance.

This year’s celebration carries the theme, “Kahandaan at TugonsaSakuna, Tungkulin ng Bawat Isa.”(Preparation for Disaster is Everyone’s Business and a Shared Responsibility)