ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (ZCDRRMC) has been selected as one of the finalists in the Gawad Kalasag National Awards for Highly-Urbanized City Category.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena on Thursday said the ZCDRRMC has passed the evaluation in accordance with the guidelines of Gawad Kalasag Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance.
Ochotorena said that the National Selection Committee (NSC) concluded the Desk Validation of entries submitted by the Regional Selection Committee (RSC).
He said a two-day field validation in this city was conducted on August 30-31 by the NSC.
The NSC is headed by Charmaine Villamil of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) central office with National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Spokesperson Romina Marasigan and Hailey Meriel of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) central office, as members.
The Gawad Kalasag is the country’s premier annual awards for outstanding contribution in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian action.
Kalasag is a Filipino term for “shield” used by early Filipinos as a means of protection from attacks of enemies or harmful animals.
The annual Gawad Kalasag Search aims to recognize outstanding performances of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees, Civil Society Organizations, educational institutions including Early Learning Centers and Higher Education Institutions, Government Emergency Management (Basic and Advance), Hospitals, Volunteer Organizations, Private Organizations, and individuals who have shown acts of heroism during disasters and emergencies, and other major stakeholders who 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. (TPGJR/PNA)
