DAVAO CITY’S Central 911 was awarded as a Hall of Famer for Best Government Emergency Management and Response Teams category under the 22nd Gawad Kalasag Special Awards.
The city is the first ever government unit to receive a hall of fame award in this category.
“Dako kaayo ni sya og dungog of course sa Davao City and dili ni ma-achieve kung walay support sa local chief executive,” Alfredo Baloran, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief said.
Ednar Dayanghirang, Office of the Civil Defense XI regional director handed the plaque to CDRRMO chief Baloran, and Vice Mayor J Melchor Quitain Jr. during the flag raising ceremony Monday, February 26.
Baloran, said the award is given to boost the morale of the personnel working on the ground.
“They’re working for 24 hours, rain or shine, they perform their tasks to help the people in need or emergency medical response,” he added.
Gawad Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan (Kalasag) seal is the current recognition scheme of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to encourage participation of stakeholders in designing and implementing programs on disaster risk management and humanitarian response.
The body acknowledged the exemplary performance of the city’s Central 911 on its disaster risk response and management programs.
Founded on Sept. 27, 2002, Central 911 provided a centralized system to aid emergency needs and efficient response services to Davaoeños.
It is composed of four operational units such as Emergency Calls, Answering Point and Dispatch; Emergency Medical Services; Urban Search and Rescue; and Fire Auxiliary Services.
Baloran said they will prioritize more equipment, and will hire more personnels to better serve the Davaoeños. The office continues to conduct training to advance skills of the personnels.
The official is positive the Magna Carta for Disaster Workers will be pushed through to improve living and working conditions of the frontline personnels during disasters.
The House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Disaster Response, under the House Committee on Disaster Resilience approved on Nov. 13, 2023 the proposal advocating for creation of the Magna Carta.
The provisions however are currently being refined before fully approved by the committee and presented to the plenary for second and third readings.
