• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Negros Island Region yesterday honored 23 local government units across the province for their outstanding disaster risk management practices, in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol Social in Bacolod City.
Prior to the awarding rites, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices of Sipalay, San Carlos, Bago, and Binalbagan shared their respective practices.
Donato Sermeno III, RDRRMC head for Negros Island Region, and Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, representing Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, led the distribution of plaques of appreciation to the outstanding local disaster councils.
Among the Gawad Kalasag gold awardees for “Beyond Compliant” were the provincial government of Negros Occidental; municipalities of Binalbagan, Isabela, Manapla; and the cities of San Carlos, Sipalay, La Carlota, Talisay, and Bago.
The Gawad Kalasag silver awardees for “Fully Compliant” were the LGUs of E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Hinobaan, Ilog, Moises Padilla, highly-urbanized Bacolod City, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Sagay, Silay, and Victorias.
With the increased restiveness of Kanlaon Volcano, Sermeno said the RDRRMC-NIR also heightened preparations.
The RDRRMC has organized sub-clusters for preparedness, logistics, emergency, telecommunication and search and rescue, he added.*
