Tagbilaran City bags regional TESDA Kabalikat Award, moves to national level
Tagbilaran has once again proven its commitment to education and youth empowerment after winning the Regional VII Local Government Unit (LGU) Category in the 2025 Kabalikat Awards of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The city will now represent the region in the national competition.
The award was conferred during the 31st Anniversary Celebration of TESDA Region VII on September 5, 2025 at Montebello Hotel, Cebu City.
City Councilor Jose Floro Ringca accepted the recognition on behalf of Mayor Jane Yap.
The recognition underscores Tagbilaran’s sustained support for out-of-school youth, particularly through scholarships and enrollment assistance in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses.
These initiatives are implemented under the Youth Development Alliance of Tagbilaran City, which was institutionalized as a City Ordinance in 2022 to strengthen access to skills training and employment opportunities.
The TESDA Kabalikat Awards are presented annually to outstanding partners that have significantly contributed to the advancement of TVET in the Philippines.
Honorees include LGUs, national agencies, private sector partners, NGOs, and international organizations that actively promote technical education and workforce development.
Mayor Yap, in a statement, described the award as a recognition of the city’s collective effort to prioritize the future of its youth.
“This honor belongs to the people of Tagbilaran, especially our young learners. By investing in skills training and education, we are ensuring that our youth are equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. We remain committed to creating more opportunities that uplift lives and strengthen our community,” she said.
With this latest recognition, Tagbilaran continues to build on its reputation as a model city for youth development programs.
The city’s advancement to the national stage of the Kabalikat Awards positions it alongside the country’s most forward-looking LGUs in the field of education and skills training.
Hon. Jose Floro Ringca (4th from left) accepts the Regional VII Kabalikat Award – LGU Category on behalf of Mayor Jane Yap during TESDA Region VII’s 31st Anniversary Celebration on September 5, 2025, at Montebello Hotel, Cebu City. He is joined by the TESDA Region VII officials. The award recognizes Tagbilaran City’s strong support for youth empowerment and technical-vocational education. Contributed photo
Tagbilaran City augments Disaster Preparedness with 5-Day Risk Assessment and LDRRMP Workshop
The City Government of Tagbilaran, through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, (CDRRMO) in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), successfully conducted a five-day Formulation Workshop on the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (LDRRMP) for LGUs from September 8–12, 2025, at JJ’s Seafood Village, Tagbilaran City.
The workshop, attended by members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), placed strong emphasis on risk assessment — a vital step in understanding the hazards, vulnerabilities, and capacities that shape disaster preparedness and response strategies.
OCD resource persons Mr. Philip T. Ponte, Civil Defense Officer III; Ms. Janice M. Padagdag, Civil Defense Officer II; and Ms. Judy Ann O. Uy, Planning Officer I, guided participants in applying the Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) framework.
Sessions tackled hazard and exposure mapping and the assessment of historical disaster records, enabling participants to identify priority risks and their potential impacts on communities.
The activity also introduced tools for aligning risk assessment results with Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs), ensuring that future DRRM interventions directly respond to the city’s most urgent needs.
City officials underscored that the outcomes of this week-long training will serve as the foundation for crafting Tagbilaran City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan for 2026–2031.
This forward-looking plan will integrate scientific data, community inputs, and climate perspectives to strengthen the city’s resilience to disasters.
This initiative reaffirms the city government’s commitment to evidence-based disaster governance, anchored on protecting the lives, livelihoods, and properties of every Tagbilaranon family.
Teamwork in action! Tagbilaran City officials, CDRRMC members, and facilitators from the Office of Civil Defense pose for a group photo during the 5-day Risk Assessment and LDRRMP Formulation Workshop held on September 8–12, 2025, at JJ’s Seafood Village, Tagbilaran City. (Contributed photo)