Kalibo, SEALS Aklan score anew in Gawad Kalasag search

MDRRMC personnel of Kalibo assisted an elderly woman affected by forced evacuation of residents living near the Aklan riverbank during the height of Typhoon Yolanda  / PHOTO BOY RYAN ZABAL

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

 

The municipality of Kalibo and volunteer group SEALS Aklan were adjudged winners in the prestigious 2014 Gawad Kalasag: Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance for Western Visayas. 

 

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Rosario Cabrera recently announced the winners for the sustained support and exemplified preparedness in disaster management of organizations and local disaster council units. 

 

“Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan” (Kalasag) regional search for excellence in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is given annually by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

 

Sibalom, Antique scored 94.83 points for the top spot in the 1st to 3rd class municipalities category, besting the capital town of Kalibo with 93.83 points.

 

Society of Enthusiastic Aklanons for Life-Saving Services (SEALS)-Aklan was also adjudged Best Volunteer Organization along with Bago City in Negros Occidental for the component City category.

 

Two winners were declared for the province category – province of Capiz (95.65 points) and province of Guimaras (95.39 points).

 

Kalibo MDRRMC Special Operating Unit (SOU) also scored 90.38 points to receive the award for Government Emergency Response Management for Basic Search and Rescue behind first placer Capiz Emergency Responders Team, who scored 92.78 points. 

 

Other winners were Barangay Poblacion of Bago City, Negros Occidental won first place for Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee (BDRRMC) barangays urban category while Barangay Pis-anan in Sibalom, Antique was declared winner in barangay rural category. 

 

The regional winners and nominees who garnered  a minimum score of 85 percent were selected and evaluated by the Regional Selection Committee (RSC).