Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay receives the Dangal Bantayog ng Katatagan Hall of Fame Award in the category Dangal ng Pilipino: Pagpapaunlad ng Kagalingan at Katatagan from the Office of Civil Defense. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) awarded him this honor for his significant contributions to disaster risk reduction and management. The award was presented during the 2024 National Disaster Resilience Month Culminating Activity on 31 July 2024 at Tejeros Hall, AFPCOC, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Other awardees of the Dangal Bantayog ng Katatagan includes Honorable Joey Sarte Salceda, Representative of Albay’s 2nd District and Mr. Ramon S. Ang, Chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation.
from left to right: OCD Asec. Hernando Caraig Jr., Honorable Joey Sarte Salceda, Representative of Albay’s 2nd District, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, Executive Director of the UP Resilience Institute and NOAH Center, Mr. Jaime O. Lu of San Miguel Corporation (representative of Mr. Ramon S. Ang, Chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corporation), and OCD Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV
Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay dedicated the award to Project NOAH, now known as the UP NOAH Center, and to the UP Resilience Institute, particularly the hardworking individuals behind these initiatives. He also acknowledged the broader University of the Philippines System, which includes a diverse group of faculties, researchers, engineers, doctors, epidemiologists, scientists, and many others. Humbly stated that he serves merely as the driver of this vast institution and extended his heartfelt thanks to everyone he has worked and collaborated with, including provincial government offices, LGUs, mayors, national agencies, and private companies. He also recognized the media outlets and on-the-ground personnel, who are crucial in delivering important information and response during times of disasters.
Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay together with Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV and Asec. Hernando Caraig Jr. of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)
The right solution cannot be achieved without understanding the problem, noted by Dr. Lagmay. He mentioned the importance of risk assessments and creating plans; emphasized the critical need for collaboration to fully understand and address disasters effectively. Also, acknowledging the different agencies that engage in discussions often having differences of opinion, to which he referred that this is the nature of science. Through informative discussions, our understanding with the problems faced and with science are made better.
Dr. Lagmay pointed out that if they had worked by themselves and not together as a whole society, their efforts would not have been as effective. He also congratulated everyone for their efforts that it is not just the work of one group or association, but a collective effort, which have reduced the number of deaths and saved a thousand lives per year.
As a disaster scientist, his role involves going to ground zero, analyzing mistakes, and learning from each disaster. Researches on disasters never ends and that there is always much more to learn. Dr. Lagmay addressed misconceptions about the role of UP and scientists studying disasters, clarifying that their focus is not to lay blame but to learn from mistakes in order not to repeat them. He highlighted the need to understand the psychology and sociology of Filipinos, expressing a desire to reduce the number of deaths per year to zero.
He believed that the NDRRMC awarded him because they did not take their words and criticisms negatively. Instead, he saw the award as a thank you for the contributions in building disaster risk reduction efforts. In conclusion, Dr. Lagmay expressed hope that the Office of Civil Defense will continue to recognize the significant efforts in disaster risk reduction management. He featured that the award symbolizes the value of learning through science and constructive criticism, aimed at fostering positive change.
Dangal Bantayog ng Katatagan Awardees together with Civil Defense Officials