Quezon City is nation’s best in disaster risk reduction
QUEZON CITY has finally copped the top plum in the much-coveted Gawad Kalasag as it emerged number one in this year’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council national search.
The nation’s premier city outpointed second placer Angeles City and dethroned third-placer, Davao City, which twice won in 2016 and 2017.
Mayor Herbert Bautista received the award from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Ricardo Jalad on Dec. 4 at AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo.
“It’s not the award, but the importance of making sure that everybody becomes resilient. Quezon City became resilient not only because of the local government’s efforts, but because of everybody’s collective effort,” Mayor Bautista said.
This year’s judges cited Quezon City for implementing programs and policies that address the four thematic areas: disaster mitigation and prevention, response, preparedness, and rehabilitation and recovery.
The citation reads, “Best Highly Urbanized Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is awarded to Quezon City for putting premium on the promotion of a deeper understanding of hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks of its communities; for prioritizing and allocating ample resources that paved the way for the enhancement of skills, knowledge and perspectives to achieve disaster resilience; for espousing an effective resettlement and housing program implemented through partnership and collaboration with multi-stakeholders that aimed to take individuals and families out of hazard-prone areas; for seamlessly integrating environment protection and management, livelihood and resource generation, family and community preparedness; and for ensuring that organizational structures, policies, and programs on disaster risk reduction and climate change are in place and working, with its citizenry sharing a common vision of safety, preparedness, and resiliency. These accomplishments are all notable contributions to the national effort to build a safer, climate change adaptive and disaster resilient Philippines, worthy emulation by our people and recognition from Gawad Kalasag.”