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 RDCC awards SHC "Gawad KALASAG"
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by Carmela Joyce A. Carrasco and Katherine Ann V. Ursolino November 11, 2009 – The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC IV-A), together with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD IV-A), honored Sacred Heart College with this year’s Gawad KALASAG at an awarding ceremony in Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City, Laguna.
Gawad KALASAG, an acronym for KAlamidad at SAkuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan, is RDCC’s tribute to individuals and groups that have a grand vision of supporting the government’s call to strengthen the development of mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards, strengthen disaster preparedness- for effective response to all levels and extend its services to others in times of disaster. It is an accolade presented to any Local Disaster Coordinating Council, non-government organization, volunteer organization, school or government manager.
Virtue is the strongest shield
The word ‘kalasag’, when translated into English, literally means shield. Since 2006, SHC has been employing various disaster-related precautions to instill the significance of preparedness among its students.
In the course of four years, SHC has successfully conquered over its search for excellence in Disaster Risk Management and Humanitarian Assistance, having conducted numerous implementations of disaster-preparedness ranging from fire and earthquake drills, bomb drills and even hostage-taking drills.
The annual concrete action plan by the Committee on Health and Safety of SHC made the school stand out among others. Engr. Elda Aranilla, committee chairperson, further explained that the Lucena City Disaster Coordinating Council (LCDCC) was the one that nominated SHC especially because the school continuously helps in their programs. “Sacred Heart College is consistent in its programs regarding the safety and health of the students and personnel”, added Engr. Aranilla.
Beating all others
SHC is indeed in good company. For some of its co-recipients of the Gawad Kalasag included the LCDCC, Department of Health IV-A, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas - Lucena City (BSP-LC) and the Philippine Coast Guard to name a few.
Among all 23 recipients in the NGOs, volunteer organizations, schools and government managers’ category, SHC is the only school in Region IV-A to be presented this prestigious honor.
Engr. Aranilla, together with one of the committee members, Mrs. Leticia Hernandez, R.N., Health Services coordinator, and Dr. Juanito Merle, Student Services and External Affairs vice president, accepted the Gawad Kalasag plaque during the awarding ceremony.
Constant vigilance
With the theme “’Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro”, PCSupt. Perfecto Ponce Palad, PESE, RDCC IV-A chairman, assured everyone who attended the awarding ceremony of the Gawad KALASAG that “these foreseen disasters are being addressed by the RDCCs… before we are just reactive, now we have a very very serious plan; we will prevent loss of life”.
Aside from the pre-emptive evacuation plans, he also left this message for the awardees: “The simple plaque, the ‘thank you’, cannot repay what you have done to help people… put in your heart and mind that people from Luzon are very thankful for your help, for risking your life”.
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