by Homer R. Jajalla
Founder and Immediate Past Chairman
Mahinog Response 143
Congratulations to my fellow officers and members of Mahinog Response 143 on the occasion of our 6th founding anniversary on June 28, 2008.
As your founding chairman for the past 6 years, it is with great pride that I applaud all my fellow Responders for your immeasurable efforts, dedication and commitment to the group.
Over the years, we maintained our optimism and continue our advocacy for volunteerism. Volunteers have rapidly grown from 15 to 165 members today.
With our new repeater communication system, we have improved our signals by thousand times and our services by leaps and bounds.
From where we were six years ago, there is nowhere to go but UP! Response 143 has rapidly established a name in disaster and emergency response inside and outside the province. Our past accomplishments and heroic dedication reaped major awards. To avoid being self-serving, let us speak on the basis of the awards that we received.
This year, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council-Office of the Civil Defense conferred on Response 143 the Gawad Kalasag 2008 Awards for Volunteer Organization in the Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Management and Humanitarian Assistance during the culmination of the Disaster Consciousness Month Celebration held at Camp Alagar, Cagayan de Oro City.
In 2006, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) adjudged Response 143 as regional awardee and national qualifier to the 2006 National Search for Outstanding Volunteer Organization.
In 2005, the Asian Institute of Management-Local Government Academy selected Response 143 among the national nominees to the prestigious Gawad Galing Pook Award which aims to publicly recognize innovative and effective local government initiatives and to inspire its possible replication.
In the same year, Response 143 ranked 5th placer against 50 entries in the whole Mindanao for best community programs and local practices sponsored by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
We also received several awards and citations from the Municipal Government of Mahinog, the Provincial Government of Camiguin, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Region X.
We must always reflect that whatever we have achieved is not a final destination but rather a continuation of our unending commitment for voluntary public service. Be proud in what we have accomplished.
As I end my term and turn over the command and responsibility to the new Chairman, we must always carry on the “four pillars” upon which Response 143 was founded: Volunteerism, Love, Unity and Commitment.
Thank you for your support and I hope that we are all inspired to do more, aim high and go another extra miles. Mabuhay tayong lahat.
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