BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Regional Task Force COVID-19 (Cordillera RTF COVID-19) and the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Cordillera RDRRMC) honored the leadership exemplars and resiliency champions in the region through the “Panangpadayaw iti Bituen ti Amianan” on July 14, 2020 at the DPWH-CAR Regional Office, Engineer’s Hill, Baguio City.
Cordillera RTF COVID-19 and Cordillera RDRRMC Chairperson Albert A. Mogol took pride of the significant contributions of exemplary models of community leadership towards strengthening resiliency in the Cordilleras. These were recognized through the “Panangpadayaw iti Bituen ti Amianan” and launching of the “Agdan ti Laing” Coffee Table Book, which represents the “terraces of excellence” and depicts solidarity amid crisis. He urged the local government units (LGUs) and member-agencies to continue exemplifying Cordillera’s solidarity and resilience.
On the other hand, Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, administrator of OCD and executive director of NDRRMC, addressed the Cordillera RDRRMC member-agencies and LGUs noting that the crisis has brought the best among public servants. He therefore concluded that it is imperative for the NDRRMC to be ingenious to overcome the impacts of the pandemic and this has been exemplified by this year’s awardees of the “Panagpadayaw iti Bituen ti Amianan” who indeed are worthy of emulation.
He enjoined the member-agencies LGUs to continue working in delivering services to keep the people protected from the pandemic. He encouraged the participation and cooperation of sectors of the government at all levels to carry out the best services to the people under the concept of the whole of nation approach.
During the awarding proper, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong was recognized for his aggressive campaign for the employment of cognitive investigation on the conduct of contact tracing and enforcement of a systematic triage system. The City Government was also recognized due to its effective handling of the pandemic as well as empowering affected local sectors.
Likewise, Mayor Gabino P. Ganggangan of the Municipality of Sadanga, Mountain Province was also awarded for mainstreaming a socio-cultural approach in responding to the pandemic while promoting sense of Bayanihan among the people of Sadanga. Their exceptional leadership has indeed promoted resiliency and empowerment in Cordilleran communities during these difficult times.
Meanwhile, DPWH-CAR Regional Director Tiburcio L. Canlas was recognized for the DPWH-CAR’s infrastructure interventions that helped the Cordilleras comply with DRRM standards and for providing support to various program of regional line agencies (RLAs) as lead agency of the Roads and Bridges Clearing Management Cluster and co-lead of the Inter-Agency Task Group Kennon (IATG Kennon).
In addition, innovations and other best practices of co-equally outstanding local chief executives and core members of the Cordillera RDRRMC were featured in the “Agdan ti Laing” Coffee Table Book which was also turned over to Congressman Eric Go Yap as the guest of honor and speaker.
Thereafter, the Cordillera RDRRMC “Agdan ti Laing” Coffee Table Book was launched, featuring the accomplishments of the RDRRMC in the attainment of the national DRRM goal: a safer, adoptive, and disaster resilient Philippines.
Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Partylist Representative Eric Go Yap addressed the participating LGUs and member-agencies, claiming that his heart to help the people is his foundation. He cited his efforts to help the people such as the need to build a department of handle the rising problem on disasters, launch stronger effort against terrorism, promote good manners and right conduct to foster true Filipino values, and defend the people from exploitative oligarchs.
Furthermore, he committed to file a bill to declare every 15th day of July Cordillera Day as a holiday. He recognized the efforts of all member-agencies, government employees, media, and local officials in addressing the pandemic. As Legislative Caretaker of the Lone District of the Province of Benguet, he committed to push development efforts in the provinces of Cordilleras where he solicited the support of all regional directors. (OCD-CAR)