MANILA, Philippines - Rescue5 continues to be a trailblazer, being the first in the broadcast industry to receive the Gawad KALASAG award. Rescue5, led by TV5 public service head Sherryl Yao, received an award for Best Private Organization at the 2013 Metropolitan Manila Regional Gawad KALASAG Awards last Aug. 7 held at the Marikina Convention Center.
Rescue5’s winning entry included its disaster response operations for the habagat flooding in 2012, Typhoons Pedring and Quiel in 2011 and the rescue of a Thai mountaineer during the Mayon eruption this year. It also included its advocacy on disaster preparedness such as the launch of the Rescue5 activity book for kids which passed the review of the Department of Education (DepEd). Rescue5, as cited by CNN, is probably the first in the world in equipping reporters and cameramen in emergency medical service and other lifesaving skills. Last July, it also made a pioneering move in the broadcast industry, when it partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Philippine Air Force (AFP-PAF) to become an affiliated reserve unit and be designated as its 500th Search and Rescue Group Reserve to strengthen its response to calamities.
Gawad KALASAG is conducted annually to recognize the exceptional contribution of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) practitioners in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of communities to disaster risks. It is organized by the Office of Civil Defense - National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).