Balbalan LGU conferred with Gawad KALASAG Award, cited as ‘Beyond Compliant’

Balbalan, Kalinga – The Local Government Unit of Balbalan did not just receive the Gawad KALASAG award, it was also among those cited ‘Beyond Compliant’ by the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).

The Gawad Kalasag citation is being given to Local Government Units and stakeholders that promote and implement disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation, and humanitarian assistance programs which protects high risk communities against extreme hazards.

One of this year’s awardees in the Cordillera region is the Municipality of Balbalan with the LGU headed by Mayor Almar Malannag receiving a plaque from the Cordillera RDRRMC on December 17 at the ION Hotel in Baguio City.

“Dagitoy mait-ited nga awards kadakami idiay Balbalan, dagitoy iti produkto dagiti efforts iti amin,” Mayor Malannag said.

According to the local chief executive, one of the practices in the municipality is to immediately respond to the after-effects of calamities such as clearing roads by the MLGU, themselves, without waiting for the provincial or national government. This, he said, facilitates prompt opening of roads blocked by debris in order for motorists and the public to get where they need to be without hassle.

“On that day nga adda iti calamity, any calamity nga sumangpet ditoy ayan tayo or idiay Balbalan ket adda kami idiay amin nga naka-intact, haan mi kayat nga iti Balbalan nu panggep iti calamity ket maudi. Within one day, ilukat min iti road ta kunak why not adda tayo ditoy, datayon iti agkuti,” he shared.

Malannag also emphasized the importance of being on the ground, believing that officials should lead the people by being there.

“As a leader, nu ipakitam kanyada nga iyunam, maengganyo da nga sumurot,” he expressed.