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 3rd Class
Municipality DRRMC and Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte as Best 4th to 6th
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.