STUDENTS and professors of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) recognized 20 barangays from various districts that had the best Covid-19 response in “Gawad Paglaum” via Zoom last April 5, 2021.
The recognized Barangays were:
District 1: Barangays 5-D, 9-A, 20-B, 24-C, 76-A, Talomo Proper, Matina Crossing, Catalunan Grande, and Matina Pangi.
District 2: Callawa, Buhangin District; Angliongto, Buhangin District; Buhangin Proper; Pampanga, Buhangin District; and Panacan, Tibungco District.
District 3: Marapangi, Toril District; Mintal; Baracatan; Calinan Proper; Malagos; and Santo Niño, Tugbok District.
Barangay captain January Duterte of Catalunan Grande, District 1, admitted that at the onset of the pandemic, they were unprepared.
“But throughout the circumstances, we took our chances in time to organize and plan on how to handle the unexpected situation. We aren’t perfect but we still managed to deliver our duties and responsibilities to our barangay,” she said.
“I’m giving this credit to my fellow barangay officials, staff, and functionaries including the nurses, barangay health workers, purok leaders, solid waste management staff, fire crew, and barangay police,” she added.
Christopher Pastoral, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson of Buhangin Proper, District 2, said, “With all our efforts, we are confident that we will triumph. Yes, things will not be easy, but nothing is impossible with our spirit.”
AdDU Communication Department chair Dr. Christine Faith Avila emphasized in her speech the importance of paglaum (hope).
“Paglaum speaks of resilience. It is an inner strength to look at the slightest spark of light in a very dark situation and we are here to award the best barangays who took the initiative to address this dark situation that we are in right now,” she said.
The second and fourth-year Communication students short-listed 46 out of the 182 barangays in the city, evaluating each based on their policies’ significance and relevance, effectiveness, and community perception.
“This is the first time someone, somebody — an institution, recognized the effort of everyone,” said barangay captain Eric Gregorio of Calinan Proper, District 3.
“It’s a big thing,” he added.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has classified Davao City as a “low risk” area. (Percival Cyber Vargas and Paolo Dimalanta)