PANABO CITY – Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) hosted the Gawad KALASAG Regional Selection Committee on June 17, 2025, for the field validation of the College’s disaster preparedness and risk reduction efforts. The activity was held at the DNSC Gender and Development Conference Room and throughout the campus grounds.
The field validation team was composed of representatives from key government agencies: Mr. Hernane Resueño of the Department of Education Region XI (DepEd XI), Police Captain Lope Prado of the Philippine National Police Region XI (PNP XI), Mr. Ralphkin Jimenez of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region XI (DILG XI), Engr. Suzette Piatos of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region XI (DPWH XI), and Ms. Ralm Orbeso of the Office of Civil Defense Region XI (OCD XI).
DNSC President Joy M. Sorrosa welcomed the evaluators and expressed the College’s dedication to fostering a culture of resiliency, “At DNSC, we take pride in our proactive disaster readiness initiatives, fostering a culture of vigilance, solidarity, and continuous improvement. While we have accomplished much in disaster risk reduction, we recognize that there is always more to be done, especially in a time when calamities are increasingly inevitable.”
The field validation activities included a comprehensive review of DNSC’s disaster-related documents, inspection of emergency response equipment, interviews with key stakeholders, and the observation of simulated emergency drills such as an earthquake and fire drill. The evaluators also provided feedback and recommendations to further strengthen the College’s preparedness measures.
The event was facilitated by the Bachelor of Science in Disaster Resiliency and Management (BSDRM) program and the Disaster Resiliency and Administration Committee. The field validation forms part of DNSC’s bid for recognition under the National Gawad KALASAG Awards, the country’s highest honor for excellence in disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance.
