Gawad Kalasag 2018 winners bared

SEVENTEEN regional winners of the search for excellence in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), and humanitarian assistance are set to be recognized by the Cordillera Gawad KALASAG Regional Selection Committee (RSC).

Civil Defense Cordillera Director Andrew Alex Uy explained the RSC proclamation for this year’s winners under nine categories will be entitled to receive plaques of recognition and cash incentives to be spent for their DRRM-related programs.

Mountain Province is still the best provincial DRRM council for three consecutive years, while under the municipal DRRM council (1st to 3rd class) category, La Trinidad MDRRMC remains undefeated with the municipality of Buguias in Benguet ranked second, and Luna in Apayao gets third place.

The Municipality of Bucay in Abra, a firsttimer entrant is the sole winner under Best MDRRMC (4th – 6th class) category.

For the first time, the RSC is giving recognition to two deserving barangays in La Trinidad, Benguet namely Ambiong and Puguis.

Also consistent in bagging the Gawad KALASAG award is the University of the Cordilleras (UC) competing under the Higher Education Institution category.

Among the winners are six public schools in Mt Province and Benguet. For public elementary schools (ES) category, Paoad ES in Tublay wins along with Mount Data ES in Bauko as second, and Cagubatan ES in Tadian as third placer.

Under the public high schools (HS) category, Lepanto National HS in Mankayan is the best school together with Banguitan National HS in Besao ranked second while Mil-an National HS gets third spot.

Two volunteer organizations will be recognized for their preparedness and response efforts namely Loacan Health Emergency Response Team from Itogon, Benguet while next in rank is Baguio City’s 911 on Call.

The RSC also gives special recognition to Itogon Municipal Health Services Office under Government Emergency Management Services (GEMS) category.

The regional winners will receive cash incentives worth P50,000 for first placers; P30,000 for second placers; and third placers will get P15,000.

The national awardees will receive plaques and monetary awards worth P500,000 for winners; two (2) more nominees under local DRRMC category will get P200,000. Further, winners under other categories will receive P300,000 while two nominees for each category will be given P100,000.

All regional first placers will represent the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at the national level.