TABUK CITY, Kalinga – On the culminating day of the celebration of this year’s National Resilience Month, the provincial government named Babalag West, in Rizal municipality as the Most Outstanding Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC).
Babalag West received a cash incentive of PhP 30,000 and a plaque, presented by Governor James Edduba and Vice Governor Jocel Baac.
Barangay Upper Uma, in Lubuagan, and barangay Lower Taloctoc, Tanudan came in second and third place with cash plaques and cash incentives of PhP 25,000 and PhP 20,000 respectively.
The provincial government also gave consolation prizes of PhP 10,000 each and certificate of appreciation to non-winning entries namely barangay Ipil, Tabuk City; Brgy. Guina-ang, Pasil; barangay Luplupa, Tinglayan; barangay Talalang, Balbalan; and barangay Sucbot, Pinukpuk.
All the entries were assessed based on the structure and organization of BDRRMC; plans, policies and programs; accomplishments of BDRRMC; budget utilization; and leadership and innovation.
Personnel from the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Bureau of Fire Protection- Kalinga, Department of the Interior and Local Government-Kalinga, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) led the assessment and validation of entries.
Valdimir Jetti, the barangay chairperson of Babalag West said in an interview that disaster preparedness and management in the barangay is in place as disaster can strike anytime. He added that barangay officials and employees, with the residents, support disaster prevention-related activities conducted in the community such as tree planting, clean-up drive, and information drive, among others.
The official said the cash prize accorded to them will be used to purchase equipment necessary during disaster operations.