CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga–Central Luzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has announced that Alas asin Elementary School in Mariveles, Bataan was one of the winners in the 2023 Gawad Kalasag Special Awards being “Best in public elementary school” in the whole region.

RDRRMC Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) OIC-Regional Director Shelby Ruiz announced Alas asin’s victory.

Alas asin barangay officials led by Captain Florante “Dante” Malimban had provided various rescue equipment to Alas asin elementary school, including the setting up of canopy that serves as shed for waiting parents and the P1 million worth of canteen inside the school.

Malimban said he and school officials are now readying to compete in the national level.

Aside from Alas asin Elementary School, other winners were the Camp Tinio National High School as Best Public High School and Tarlac Agricultural University as Best Higher Educational Institution.

Palayan City Rescue Team topped the Best Government Emergency Management and Response Teams category, while Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital was declared as the Best National Government Hospital and Tarlac Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade as the Best Volunteer Organization.

Owing to this prestigious awards, Ruiz said that Heroic Act-Posthumous category was bestowed to five heroes of Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The five died during a rescue mission at the height of super typhoon Karding last September 25, 2022.

The winners will be Central Luzon’s entries in the national competition.

The 2023 RSC is composed of OCD and representatives of Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Education, Department of Health, Central Luzon Center for Health Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Red Cross-Pampanga Angeles Chapter and Police Regional Office 3.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Christian D. Supnad