VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – Ilocos Sur has received a ‘Beyond Compliant’ rating at the 23rd Gawad KALASAG (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Humanitarian Assistance for the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Councils and Offices category.
It is the lone province in the Ilocos Region to receive the highest compliance rating from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) this year.
“In previous years, Ilocos Sur has been a recipient of this award by being fully compliant. This year, we have maintained our status, however, we even excel more by being conferred as “Beyond Compliant”. This is a very laudable recognition,” Governor Jeremias Singson said during the flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday, November 28.
This feat is a result of the joint efforts of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), which Governor Singson chairs, according to Provincial DRRM Officer Rhon Arquelada.
“Daytoy panangabaktayo ket saan laeng nga effort ti PDRRMO iso nga agyamyamankami kadagiti miembro ti PDRRMC tayo iti kooperasyon ken tulongda tapno magun-odtayo daytoy kangrunaan idi evaluation, (This achievement is credited to the members of the PDRRMC, not just the PDRRMO alone, for their cooperation and assistance especially during the evaluation),” Arquelada said in an interview.
He said that they have conducted various disaster preparedness programs benefitting the general public and vulnerable groups, hence, reaching the target 97% to 100% utilization rate of the PDRRM fund.
“Diay utilization ti PDRRM fund ket dapat 97 to 100% ti utilization rate ket nagun-odtayo daytoy kasta met dagiti disaster preparedness programs nga ipapaaytayo iti general public, vulnerable groups a minimum ket lima ngem tatta ket na-exceedtayo daytoy a target (As we have reached the target of 97% to 100% utilization rate of the PDRRM fund, we have conducted various disaster preparedness programs that we provide to the general public and vulnerable groups. The minimum is five but we have exceeded it),” he said.
The PDRRMO has also created three to four contingency plans for every hazard, which is one of the factors for this achievement as they have once again exceeded the target for every hazard is only two plans.
“We have conducted numerous DRRM-related trainings like the Incident Command System (ICS), DRRM training for DRRM Councils, executive course for ICS, basic life support, standard first aid, emergency medical response for schools, including the quarterly Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drills (NSED), and the symposiums about a disaster-related hazard,” Arquelada added. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ/PIA Ilocos Sur)
