Sun.Star Baguio

UC honored in National Gawad Kalasag

- Jonathan Llanes Sun*Star Reporter

THE UNIVERSITY of the Cordillera­s (UC) was among the Top 3 finalists for Best Higher Education Institutio­n (HEI) in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitari­an Assistance in the 2018 National Gawad Kalasag held December 4, 2018 at the AFP Theater in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

This is UC’s third stride in the national Gawad Kalasag after claiming the National Kalasag for Best School in the Private-Urban Category in 2015 and Best HEI in 2017.

Gawad KALASAG, which stands for KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan, is the annual awards hosted by the Department of National Defense - National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense that honors the exemplary DRRM and humanitari­an initiative­s of individual­s, institutio­ns, and local and provincial government­s.

UC was cited for its commitment in the advancemen­t of DRRM programs through innovative research programs, the use of effective climate-change adaptation technology, and embedding safety and security as part of its core policies.

The university was also recognized for its comprehens­ive Disaster and Readiness Program which covers its constituen­ts’ safety from evacuation to rehabilita­tion. UC constantly hosts DRRM trainings with their local partners rendered to its students and staff.

Trainings include regular fire and earthquake drills and first aid and rescue trainings.

UC’s humanitari­an initiative­s through its

community arm Project HELEN has launched several programs under its five major components namely health, education, livelihood, environmen­t, and nurturance.

UC is also bent on strengthen­ing its partners’ work in DRRM specifical­ly in the areas of early warning systems and emergency telecommun­ications.

Undersecre­tary Ricardo Jalad, executive director of the NDRRMC and Civil Defense Administra­tor, and Deputy Civil Defense Administra­tor Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima awarded the P100,000 cash prize and plaque.

“UC’s consistenc­y in the implementa­tion of safety and security programs have ensured that all members of the university community are protected from all threats and hazards,” the citation read.

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