Marikina’s disaster response council named one of NCR’s best

Flood-prone Marikina City has been conferred an award for having one of the best disaster risk reduction and management councils in the National Capital Region.

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) conferred the Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Sakuna, Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) award on the city during the 2013 Regional Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management for Local Chief Executives held on Aug. 6-7 at the Marikina Convention Center.

The city—which has been lauded for its flood warning system for areas near the Marikina River—ranked second to Pasig City in the category.

“We are continuously improving our disaster mitigation measures not only during the rainy season but at all times so we can respond promptly and correctly to emergencies of any kind,” Mayor Del de Guzman said in a statement.

According to him, the recognition would help the city government further improve its disaster response.

For her part, Kristin Roxas, officer in charge of the city’s disaster risk reduction and management office, said the OCD took cognizance of Marikina’s disaster prevention plans and system.

She added that the OCD also recognized the city’s “updated comprehensive land use plan” as “management-responsive.”

Meanwhile, one of the city’s schools, Sta. Elena High School, garnered third place in the category of public schools with the best disaster risk reduction practices.