2019 Cordillera regional Gawad KALASAG awardees feted

December 9, 2019 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY, Dec. 5(PIA) – The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) recognized disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) champions in the region with its annual
Gawad Kalasag awards.
Leading the 2019 GK awardees are the PDRRMC of Mountain Province for the Best Provincial DRRM Council category; the La Trinidad MDRRMC for the Best DRRM Council in 1st to 3rd class municipality category; University of the Cordilleras as Best DRRM in Higher Education Institution; Manabo National High School in Abra as the Best School DRRM in Public High School category; Mount Data Elementary School in Bauko Mountain Province for Best School DRRM – Public School Category, and Epiphany Christian Academy of La Trinidad, Benguet for Best School Private ES category.
CRDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense – CAR Regional Director Albert Mogol and AFP Northern Luzon Command Deputy Commander for Administration BGEN Ramon Evan Ruiz led the awarding of the plaque of recognition to the regional winners in a ceremony at Crown Legacy Hotel here, Friday (Nov. 29).
Also awarded with plaque of recognition were the MDRRMC of Luna, Apayao (2nd place in the Best MDRRMC – 1st to 3rd class municipality); Lepanto National HS in Mankayan, Benguet and Banguitan National HS of Besao, Mountain Province for second and third place, respectively in the Public HS category, and Cagubatan ES of Tadian, Mountain Province for garnering 2nd place in the Public ES category.
The CRDRRMC also gave special recognition to the Municipal Health Services Office of Itogon, Benguet for excellence in Government Emergency Management Service and TSg. Jake Belino of the Tactical Operations Group 1 (TOG1) of the Philippine Air Force for his excellent support and contribution to the CRDRRMC.
Other regional finalists for the 2019 GK, namely the Baguio City DRRMC; the municipal DRRM Councils of Buguias and Mankayan of Benguet for the 1st to 3^rd class MDRRMC category; and the MDRRMC of Bucay and Danglas of Abra for the 4th to 6th class MDRRMC category; New Lubon ES, Cotcot Primary School and Tadian ES for Public Elementary School category; Loacan Health Emergency Response Team of Itogon Benguet for voluntary organization, and Bontoc (Mountain Province) Fire Station for Government Emergency Management Service category were also recognized.
Mogol congratulated all the regional winners and finalists, who he said, serve as inspiration to pursue with unrelenting passion and commitment the development of safer and disaster – resilient communities in the Cordillera. Mogol also reiterated his call for continuing partnership in enhancing preparedness and creating a culture of safety and resilience in Cordillera communities.
The Gawad KALASAG or “KAlamidad at sakuna Labanan, SAriling Galing ang kaligtasan” was adopted from the Filipino term for shield “Kalasag”, and 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.
 
JDP/CC-/PIA CAR