The Malaybalay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) has been included in the short-list of the top three cities across the country vying for the 2010 Gawad Kalasag Award, Component City Category.

The judging panel from the National DRRMC was composed of officials from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and League of Cities of the Philippines who travelled to the three shortlisted DRRMC’s recently.

Marlon Henson Obligado, Chairperson of the National Assessment Team, said they have come to find out about how the council had been working on DRRM, particularly on preparedness, prevention and mitigation, response, rehabilitation and climate change adaptation (CCA).

“We will also look into the city’s crafting of strategic framework to determine the council members’ respective roles for a comprehensive, integrated and proactive DRR approach in lessening the socio-economic and environmental disaster impacts including climate change,” Obligado said.

Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio Zubiri, meanwhile said, “Being chosen as one of the top three cities for the coveted Gawad Kalasag award is a challenge to the council.”

“Through this, we will know then how are we faring in uplifting the standards of DRR/CAA, and humanitarian assistance through integrated community-based strategies to protect and preserve life, property and environment,” the Mayor said.

The KALASAG or Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan awards are given to individuals, government/non-government organizations and private sector for their the excellence on DRRM/CAA. It is an annual activity to recognize their initiative in helping the Filipino government along the guidelines of Republic Act (RA) 10121, otherwise known as “An Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk along Reduction and Management System” and RA 9729 or the “Philippine Climate Change Act.” (press release from the Philippine Information Agency Region X / Ruby Balistoy)

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