By Perla Lena – PNA
ILOILO CITY — Entries from Western Visayas bagged three major awards during the national awarding of the 2018 Gawad Kalasag Search for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance held in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.
Civil Defense 6 (Western Visayas) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Division head Alleth Nogra, in an interview Wednesday, said two of the national awardees came from Capiz and one from Bacolod City.
“DRRM is everybody’s responsibility. It’s not only of the government. In Capiz, they have already spread the DRRM even in the private sector and they are excellent in doing it,” Nogra said.
She said that probably, “they have lessons learned because of (super typhoon) Yolanda.”
The Capiz State University (CapSU) and St. Anthony Hospital, both from Roxas City in Capiz, won first place for the Best Higher Education Institution and Best Private Hospitals categories, respectively.
Bacolod City’s Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade won first place in the Best Volunteer Organization category.
CapSU and Amity also bagged similar awards last year.
“As awardees, you are now one of the best in the Philippines. For you to win in your category, you have to possess what is ideal in disaster risk management,” she said.
St. Anthony’s College, Nogra said, is complete with amenities that they can “respond readily” to incidents that may happen within the city of Roxas.
The private hospital has an institutional DRRM plan, and a service continuity plan and advocates for a safe hospital both for their employees and patients. The facility likewise renders services for DRRM in the community where they belong.
On the other hand, CapSU also has the capacity to bring DRRM to their community.
The Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade, meanwhile, is an institutionalized volunteer group with its own budget and equipment.
Nogra said they look forward to winners cascading their best practices to other organizations.
She also cited the need for local government units to work on strengthening their councils because the region has no national winner for the best local DRRM council.
The winners each received a trophy and PHP300,000 cash prize that they can use to boost their DRRM capability.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Western Visayas, chaired by Civil Defense Regional Director Roberto Nuñez, was also given a commendation.
