Capiz State University welcomed the members of the National Field Evaluation Team of the 23rd Gawad Kalasag Award.
The University, which was shortlisted as one of the finalists to Special Award for Best Higher Education Institution Category.
Six validators from an inter-government team conducted the three-day validation to six CAPSU campuses and satellite colleges from October 10-12.
The validators were Mr. Eugene C. Garcia and Ms. Cynthia Q. Hernandez from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Ms. Romina B. Marasigan, Ms. Jemaimah Anne P. Isubal, Mr. Larz Vincent Camaligan, Mr. Christian Emmanuel L. Verzola, and Mr. Jan Daryl D. Solivas from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD); and Mr. Loreto B. Mina from the World Vision.
On day 1 and prior to the validation of documents, the NSC paid a courtesy visit Dr. Editha C. Alfon, SUC President III, at the Central Administration Office. They also paid a visit to Capiz Governor Fredenil “Oto” H. Castro in the Office of the Governor at Capiz Provincial Capitol where they were accommodated by Atty. Arthur Jhon H. Biñas, Capiz Provincial Administrator, Atty. Luvim Amores, Capiz Provincial Public Information Officer (PIO), and Ms. Sheila A. Artillero, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer V (LDRRMO).
They were accompanied by Dr. Wennie F. Legario, Vice President for Administration and Finance, Dr. Arnel Van V. Aleligay, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Director, Dr. Elmer M. Albaladejo, National Service Training Program Director, and Prof. Ben Francis A. Osias, CAPSU Burias Campus DRRM/NSTP Chairperson.
After these visits, they proceeded to CAPSU Dayao Satellite College for a comprehensive on-site assessment, field observations, and a realistic simulation exercise where the students, university-based medical volunteers, as well as faculty and staff, effectively demonstrated their emergency response capabilities.
The perusal and validation proper of documents took place in the Boardroom of the Central Administration Building at CAPSU Roxas City Main Campus today.
In her message during the validation proper, Dr. Alfon expressed her profound gratitude to the validators. “We are happy for your presence here, national and regional validators. We are delighted already to be a nominee in the national level.” Furthermore, she highlighted the mandate and core of CAPSU’s DRRMO and thanked the government agencies and non-government organizations for the unending support to the University’s DRRMO.
Likewise, Ms. Romina B. Marasigan, one of the validators from the Office of Civil Defense extended her sincere appreciation to CAPSU community, “for consistently showing the best practices, na napakaganda. For making a great impact in your communities. You are doing something in our pursuit of resilience, of excellence.”
An audio-video presentation about a brief background of CAPSU was presented.
Following the proceedings, Dr. Aleligay explicitly presented and discussed the remarkable accomplishments of CAPSU’s DRRMO.
Hon. Mac Arthur L. Valdemar, Municipal Mayor of Jamindan, testified to the invaluable services provided by CAPSU’s DRRMO to numerous communities across the province before, during, and after times of any emergency and disaster.
The NSC and CAPSU’s DRRMO assembled in the Conference Room at CAPSU Roxas City Main Campus to witness first-hand the state-of-the-art facilities and equipage owned and used by CAPSU’s DRRMO.
CAPSU campuses and satellite colleges were visited by the NSC together with CAPSU’s DRRMO for field observations or simulation exercises. Leg 1 – CAPSU Dayao Satellite College, Leg 2 – CAPSU Pontevedra Campus, Leg 3 – CAPSU Pilar Satellite College, Leg 4 – CAPSU Sigma Satellite College, Leg 5 – CAPSU Mambusao Satellite College, Leg 6 – CAPSU Burias Campus
Gawad KALASAG, as outlined in Memorandum Circular no. 01 series of 2008 by the National Disaster Coordinating Council, aims to acknowledge outstanding performance by local disaster coordinating councils, private/volunteer organizations, NGOs, donor agencies, and communities as key stakeholders in implementing significant DRRM projects and activities. Furthermore, it aims to recognize individuals, groups, or institutions that have displayed extraordinary courage, heroism, self-sacrifice, and bravery during natural and human-made emergencies and disasters.