GUIMARAS – The municipality of Sibunag has been cited for having the best Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in this island province.
Mark Delotindo, Sibunag’s MDRRMO chief, said the recognition is a motivation to further improve operations.
“Since this is the first time for the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to initiate this special category, it will help out in two aspects, first, on the motivational side of the actual people leading DRRM in our municipality and second, this will guide our local chief executive to boost support to DRRM-related programs and projects so all the needs and gaps will be addressed,” he said.
The award was part of the special category, Best DRRM Advocate, of the 21st Gawad KALASAG Awards of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Western Visayas.
Jordan and Nueva Valencia towns placed second and third, respectively.
The Guimaras Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and Jordan DRRM council, meanwhile, were commended for active response during the maritime incident off Iloilo Strait on Aug. 3, 2019 (three motorboats capsized).
The concept of Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) was adopted from the Filipino term for shield, kalasag, used by early Filipinos as a means of protection from attacks of enemies or harmful animals.
It was established as the country’s premier recognition scheme to various stakeholders that design and implement DRRM programs that protect and shield high risk communities against hazards and render them more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities and coping from disasters.
The Gawad KALASAG regional awarding ceremony was held at Smallville 21 Hotel on Sept. 6, 2019./PN
