Tarlac elevated to GAWAD KALASAG hall of fame

TARLAC CITY - The Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Managem en t Council (PDRRMC) has been elevated to the Hall of Fame of the National Risk Reduction and Management Council’s [NDRRMC] Gawad Kalasag after winning the national award for three consecutive years.

PDRRMC’s Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team/ Emergency Medical Services [ DART/ EMS] was awarded as the first place in the Best Government Emergency Management Services in the Basic Search and Rescue category during the 19th Gawad Kalasag National Awarding ceremony held at Crown Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City last December 11. Tarlac previously won in 2015 and 2016.

Gawad Kalasag is the principal mechanism of the NDRRMC in advancing and promoting awareness of the best practices a DRRM can able to achieve in humanitarian response and action including climate change adaptation progr ams.

Tarlac was awarded for its exemplary performance in the efficient delivery for both emergency management and public services by the utilization of its 24/7 operations center and full operationalization of emergency hotline 911.

Governor Susan Yap and Marvin Guiang, PDRRMO Officer-In-Charge received the award

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The City Council of San Fernando and the City of San Fernando Water District on Friday started a series of public hearings on the draft ordinance on septage management to ensure clean water in the Pampanga capital.

Councilor Redentor Halili, chair of the council’s committee on environmental protection, natural resources, waterways and flooding intervention; and CSFWD chair Ferdinand Caylao led the public consultation at the Heroes Hall.

The draft is titled “An Ordinance Establishing a Septage Management System in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof and for other Purposes.”

“This ordinance is long overdue,” Halili told more than 120 multi-sectoral leaders.

CSFWD general manager Jorge Gumba said no opposition was raised during the public heari ng.

“This means that the people have a real need for this facility or are aware of the need for clean water,” Gumba sai d.

The construction and operation of sewerage and septage systems are required by the Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275). The law imposes a fine of P200,000 for every day of non-compliance.

The National Sewerage and Septage Management Program,

from National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Undersecretary Austere Panadero of Department of the Interior and Local Government and Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, Administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense.

Yap lauded the national selection committee and expressed elation over the award.

“The hall of fame award is a proof that what we have invested in all the modern equipment and trainings for our personnel are worth continuing for a resilient province,” Yap said.

Guiang noted that the award is a testament of the visions of Gov. Yap to make sure that there will always be available modern equipment and manpower for disaster risk management.

“Without the support and vision of Gov. Susan Yap, the high accolade that we have attained today will not be realized, Guiang said in the vernacular.

Tarlac took home a trophy and a P100,000 cash. The province of Tarlac has won first place in the Regional Gawad Kalasag four consecutive times.

Hall of Fame awardees include the province of Isabela for best local DRRM councils and committee under provincial category, Municipality of Hinatuan, Surigao for best in local DRRM councils and committee under municipal category, Rescue 922, Cauayan City, Isabela for best in GEMS advance search and rescue category, Lord’s Hand Academy for best in school and higher education institutions in private school urban category and SipitanBadiang Day Care Center in Guimbal, Iloilo for best early learning centers under rural category. (Ric Sapnu)