Caloocan wins as top highly urbanized city for disaster response
MANILA, Philippines — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Friday awarded Caloocan City as the top highly urbanized city for disaster response during the 24th Gawad Kalasag National Awarding Ceremony.
In a statement on Saturday, Caloocan’s Public Information Office said that the city integrated internationally accepted disaster response and preparedness policies, including the establishment of alert and monitoring stations and emergency hotline 888-ALONG.
Caloocan City Mayor Along Malapitan said the recognition was both an inspiration and a challenge, adding that he had aspired to be one of the leading Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMO) in the country.
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“Ngayong nagkaroon na ito ng katuparan, isang hamon at inspirasyon po ito sa buong pamahalaang lungsod kung paano pa mas palalakasin at palalawakin ang ating mga programa,” Malapitan said in the same statement.
(Now that this has become a reality, it is both a challenge and an inspiration for the city government on how to strengthen and improve our programs.)
Article continues after this advertisementThe mayor also said that receiving the award from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself was a “great honor.”
Article continues after this advertisementMalapitan also thanked the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, emphasizing that the city government will continue to exercise its disaster preparedness practices in calamities and untoward circumstances.
“Ito ang tanda ng ating mahusay na pagseserbisyo sa mga Batang Kankaloo kaya naman mas pag-igihan pa natin ang pagtutok sa kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan, upang maging panatag sila hindi lamang sa panahon ng matinding sakuna kundi sa kahit anong hindi inaasahang pangyayari,” Malupitan added.
(This is a testament to our excellent service to the people of Kankaloo. So, let’s continue to focus on their safety and well-being, so they can feel secure not only during emergencies but in any unexpected event.)
Marcos on Friday said that the awards “highlight that building resilience is not the task of one single entity, but a collective effort that requires a whole-of-government, indeed a whole-of-society approach.”
According to the NDRRMC, the following were the winners of the Gawad Kalasag awards in the local DRRM councils and offices category:
- Best Province: Province of Occidental Mindoro
- Best Municipality (1st to 3rd Class Category): Municipality of Malungon, Province of Sarangani
- Best Municipality (4th to 6th Class Category): Municipality of Cagwait, Province of Surigao Del Sur
- Best Highly Urbanized City: City of Caloocan
- Best Component City: City of Tacurong, Province of Sultan Kudarat
- Best Independent Component City: Santiago City, Province of Isabela
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