QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Valenzuela City got “Fully Compliant” rating from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC’s) Gawad KALASAG. The Seal of Excellence was awarded to the Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Council (VCDRRMO) during the Gawad KALASAG National Awarding Ceremony held at The Manila Hotel, December 7.

Gawad KALASAG or “Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan” which was founded in 1998 is one of the country’s prestigious awards in disaster risk reduction and management, humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness.

Valenzuela City, garnered a score of 1.92 in the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and Offices (LDRRMCOs) category bagged a Fully Compliant Seal of Excellence for adherence to the standards and functionality of LDRRMCOs as prescribed by Republic Act 10121 (RA10121) or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Act of 2012.

The City’s outstanding performance in maintaining the system and operations of facilities in the city have helped the rescue personnel to perform their duties in times of calamity without jeopardizing both their safety and of their clients.

Valenzuela City is one of the 436 Local Government Units (LGUs) in the country who bagged the Fully Compliant Seal of Excellence, and among the thirteen cities in Metro Manila.

In his message, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said “Dati po hanggang signal number three lang ang bagyo natin, ngayon hanggang signal number five na, these are the kinds of problems that we face now, and you are very important dahil kayo ang haharap sa oras ng mga kalamidad,” Abalos said.

“Because of your efforts, ngayon pag sinabi niyong mag evacuate na, nag-eevacuate na ang mga tao, and for that, I congratulate you all, dahil napakalaking bagay na po niyan. The first step in solving a problem is to acknowledge that there is a problem.” [Before, we only experience typhoons up to signal number three, but now we have signal number five, these are the kinds of problems we experience, and you are very important because you are the ones who face the peple during times of calamities,” Abalos further said.

“Now, because of your efforts, when we tell people to evacuate, they are now evacuating, and for that I congratulate you all because that is already a big thing. The first step in solving a problem is to acknowledge that there is a problem,]” he added.

Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRRMO) head Dr. Arnaldo Antonio received the award in behalf of Mayor WES Gatchalian and the City Government of Valenzuela. (pio Valenzuela/pia-ncr)