Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region V-Bicol
DIVISION OF CAMARINES NORTE

D Q LIWAG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Sto. Domingo, Vinzons

NARRATIVE REPORT ON
17th ANNUAL GAWAD KALASAG AWARDING CEREMONY
DQLNHS—SDRRMC once again garnered first place in recent 2015 Gawad Kalasag
Awards of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and was elevated to
Gawad’s Hall of Fame after winning as Best Rural School ( Public-Rural Category ) for three
consecutive years from 2013 to 2015. The school has consistently been in the honor roll of the
annual Gawad Kalasag Awards for the past three years.

Now on its 17th year, the Gawad Kalasag Awards, conferred by the NDRRMC under the
Department of National Defense, is a national search for excellence in disaster risk reduction and
management, and humanitarian assistance. This year, the awarding ceremony was held at Char-
domay By Astoria , Pasig City last May 2 . The school was awarded with a cash prize of One Hun-
dred Thousand ( Php 100.000.00) pesos , plaques and certificates of recognition.

The following attendees from the Division of Camarines Norte were : Mrs. Ruby S.
Abundabar, CN Division Superintendent , Mrs. Alice I. Quinito, current DQLNHS Principal, Mrs.
Grace C. Parungao and Ana G. Maesa, SDRRMC Coordinators; and representatives of the
SDRRMC committees. Mrs. Wilma Joy M. Del Monte , former Principal of DQ Liwag National
High School was not present in the occasion due to unavoidable circumstance.

From Regional level : Director Bernardo Alejandro and company from Office of Civil
Defense V. Camp Gen.Simeon A . Ola, Legazpi City. National level : Mr. Cecilio Peralta from
DRRMO-DepED Central Office ; Ms. Padagdag and company from OCD-NDRRMC, Camp Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. It is noteworthy to mention the regional and national validators
because they not only assessed but they also gave the council their sound advices, practical
suggestions and constructive criticism .

The program commenced at exactly 10: 00 0’clock in the morning through National An-
them , followed by Ecumenical Prayer by Pasig Chorale. In his opening remarks, Honorable
Mel Senen C. Sarmiento, Chair, National Selection Committee and Secretary of Interior and Lo-
cal Government , cited that , to sustain the DRRM program, the project adopted the following
strategies:
 From reactive to pro active.
 Funds readily available
 Provision of Manual /Checklist for Early Preparation for Mayors.
  Provision of Manual /Checklist for Early Preparation for Mayors.
 Community Drills
 Family Initiativeness : ( Bgy. Map in every household )
 Pantawid Pamilya
 Provision of Training Module about Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Mitiga-
tion
 Engagement/Involvement of Resource Persons– Local Chief Executive

Honorable Voltaire T. Gazmin, Chair, NDRRMC and Secretary of National Defense

acknowledges and convey his appreciation to the awardees for their patriotic achievements in
DRRM as an introduction of his inspirational message. He also addressed the start of Gawad
Kalasag in 1998; the legal basis and why RA 10121 superseded PD 1566. He reiterated that
RA 10121 strengthened DRRM and the Kalasag fundamental principle of self-help. He also em-
phasized the readiness and preparedness programs as our tool to the punishment of mother
nature which improve our survival techniques such as : planting trees, clean-up drive and the
restoration of our nature.

The highlight of the program was the awarding of Gawad Kalasag. Conferred the Best
DRRMC awards in their respective categories were Legazpi City, Barangay Oro Site which
was also elevated to the Kalasag Award Hall of Fame . A private organization , the Simon of
Cyrene Children’s Rehabilitation and Development Foundation was also cited as Best
Civil Society Organization ; Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital as the Best
Hospital and DQ Liwag National High School as the Best Public-Rural School, all under Re-
gion V-Bicol.

Fresh from winning the national championship, Honorable Maribel Andaya Euse-
bio, Mayor of Pasig City , enthused their DRRM strategies such as :
 Improving the ability of vulnerable communities to cope with disasters using city-
based disaster preparedness strategies.
 Establishing and building the capacity of alliances and networks to carry out effec-
tive disaster preparedness and response measures.
 Mapping hazards and conducting vulnerability assessments of disaster- prone areas
and advocating that necessary mitigation measures be implemented.
 Providing immediate relief and rehabilitation to the neediest during and after disas-
ters.
 Promoting the rights of disaster victims to proper compensation and rehabilitation by
advocating that the government formulate appropriate policies.

Another forerunner of DRRM, Honorable Noel E. Rosal, Mayor of Legazpi City also
shared his impressions. According to him, receiving the award is the prize of dedication and
hardwork . He said further that embarking in this undertaking is applying the best of ourselves.
The concept of their DRRM is to inculcate in their people the culture of safety in their school
and barangay. They make their people embrace preparedness as a way of life. They have insti-
tutionalized everything and instilled in their minds the concept of shared responsibilities and
sense of ownership.
 For the closing remarks, USEC Alexander P. Pama, Executive Director, NDRRMC and
Administrator, Office of Civil Defense , acknowledges the awardees and the distinguished guests
present in the occasion.

Photo opportunity with the key persons and co-awardees from the Region V was
undertaken before lunch was served.

Prepared by :

GRACE C. PARUNGAO
SDRRMC Coordinator

Noted :

ALICE I. QUINITO
Principal II

APPROVED :

RUBY S. ABUNDABAR, CESO V

Schools Div. Superintendent
DQLNHS-SDRRMC : 2015 Regional and National Gawad Kalasag Hall of Fame Awardee
for Best Rural School ( Public-Rural Category )

VENUE : Chardomay By
Astoria, Pasig City
DATE : May 2, 2016