CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), has announced the winners of the 19th Gawad Kalasag Regional Awards.
“The annual search aims to recognize Local DRRMCs, organizations, institutions, groups, and individuals that continue to render exemplary contribution in promoting and implementing significant and gender sensitive DRRM-Climate Change Adaptation programs and innovations that build community resiliency in the long term,” OCD OIC-Regional Director and RDRRMC Chairperson Edgardo Ollet said.
Recipients of the Gawad Kalasag for Best Local DRRMC are Pampanga (Province category), Olongapo City (Highly Urbanized City category), City of San Fernando (Component/Independent City category), Baler in Aurora (1st-3rd class Municipality category), and Barangay Pagas in Cabanatuan City (Barangay-Rural category).
Moreover, Gawad Kalasag for Government Emergency Response Management winners include Tarlac Provincial Disaster Assistance Response Team/Emergency Medical Services (Basic Search and Rescue category) and Olongapo Fire Rescue (Advanced Search and Rescue category).
Gawad Kalasag for Schools victors, on the other hand, are Cupang Elementary School (Rural category) and Camp Tinio National High School (Urban category).
And lastly, Gawad Kalasag for Hospitals honorees include Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (Department of Health Regional, Teaching and Training Hospitals, and other National Government Hospitals category) and James Gordon Memorial Hospital (Provincial, City, Municipal, and District Hospitals category).
“They will receive their awards in a ceremony in Cabanatuan City on August 7,” Ollet added.
Other regional winners are Balanga City (2nd in Component/Independent City category), Palayan City (3rd in Component/Independent City category), Dipaculao in Aurora (2nd in (1st-3rd class Municipality category), San Luis in Aurora (3rd in 1st-3rd class Municipality category), barangay Tortugas in Balanga City (2nd in Barangay-Rural category), City of San Fernando Rescue Unit (2nd in Basic Search and Rescue category), Bulacan Rescue (3rd in Basic Search and Rescue category), Dr. Felipe De Jesus National High School (2nd in School Urban category), Bataan General Hospital (2nd in (Department of Health Regional, Teaching and Training Hospitals, and other National Government Hospitals category), and Mariveles Mental Hospital (3rd in Department of Health Regional, Teaching and Training Hospitals, and other National Government Hospitals category).
Winners were selected by a committee composed of representatives from OCD, Bureau of Fire Protection, Army 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Information Agency, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Red Cross, Department of Health, and Department of Agriculture.