The Bacolod City Disaster Coordinating Council has been nominated to the national contest after having been declared recently as the best in Region 6 in the highly urbanized category.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he was informed that Bacolod has qualified among the top three in the country together with Makati and Olongapo.

“To belong to this league is an honor by itself,” Leonardia said.

These cities were the same contenders when Bacolod was in the contest for the Most Child Friendly City, Best Peace and Order Council, the Most Disabled Friendly City, and Most Business Friendly City, he added.

“At least this shows consistency with regards to our competitors and at the same time also shows consistency with regards to the standing of our city government among the rest,” Leonardia said.

Leonardia also said the National Disaster Coordinating Council, with the intercession of Deputy Presidential spokesman Anthony Golez, will turn over to Bacolod City today equipment worth P20 million.

“With that, we are confident that we can further improve our disaster preparedness,” he said.

Executive Assistant Joemarie Vargas said that, as of now, Bacolod is already a winner, but the rating will be announced next week and the mayor will be receiving the award in Malacañang.

He said the selection committee had recommended five cities – Bacolod, Makati, Olongapo, Cebu and Legaspi.

Perhaps they saw in the records that the CDCC has the support of the executive, especially in the flood control program, Vargas said.

He said Makati has a budget of more than P10 billion, and its flood control program is being handled by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, while for Bacolod, it is only a local government initiative.

Vargas said it is only Bacolod that will receive the P20 million high tech equipment, outside of Manila.

He said representatives from Regions 6, 7 and 8 will arrive tomorrow to formally receive the equipment which include a generator, thermal camera and snake camera.

He will head the team from Bacolod that will receive the equipment at the O’Hotel where the signing of a memorandum of agreement will be held, he added.*CGS

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