CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) is eyeing for the National Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) Award 2016 as it landed among the three finalists.

With this, the members of the PDRMMC headed by Governor Lilia G. Pineda and Vice Governor Dennis Delta Pineda welcomed yesterday the National Validation Board represented by Jose Chito Pampanga from the Office of Civil Defense; Delia Basco from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration – Department of Science and Technology; and Annielyn Rivera from National Economic Development Authority.

In her welcome remarks, Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda acknowledged the efforts given by various provincial departments, public offices and private organizations in disaster response and risk reduction.

She also asked the council to be prepared in the coming days where the effects of climate change are worsening.

“I ask you not to stop planning on what to do in disaster preparedness here in the province of Pampanga,” she said.

The governor added that the province was able to survive all of the calamities occurred in the past days because of the combined efforts of the council.

“We were able to provide all of the needed equipments, the land banking, the needed augmentation in the disaster response, the engineering structures because of you,” she added.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) headed by Angie Blanco prepared the necessary requirements and presented the best practices of the PDRRMC.

Blanco presented in almost three hours the capabilities, capacities and the milestones achieved by the PDRMMC in 2015.

The ‘Gawad Kalasag’ Award is given to individuals, non-government organizations, private sector and government organizations, in recognition of their initiative in helping the Filipino government uplift the standard of disaster management in the country.

Other provinces vying for the National ‘Gawad Kalasag’ Award are Dinagat Island and the last year’s awardee, Isabela.