Minister Pablo Bustinduy and Director General Patricia Bezunartea presented the award in a solemn ceremony. Cabanes thanked them for the distinction, calling it "an act of justice and an impetus" to continue working, highlighting that Social Services were activated on the very night of the catastrophe and their teams "have been giving their all".
The president recalled the daily assistance to "hundreds of people" during the initial months, the search for housing solutions for the homeless, and the added difficulty that part of the staff was also affected by the DANA. The awarding of this Gold Cross had already been announced by Minister Bustinduy the previous week in València.
In his speech, Cabanes defended Social Services as "the foundation of democracy and the European Welfare State" and "the main tool for correcting the inequalities" generated by the system. He emphasized that "social class, race, or sex do not matter", as they "always look at us with the same eyes and are what make us equal".
Representatives from town councils such as Albal, Alfafar, Alcàsser, Catarroja, Mastanassa, Picanya, and Sedaví traveled to Madrid. Cabanes noted that l'Horta Sud has always prioritized social policies and has pioneered many initiatives, "taking on many inappropriate responsibilities, as with the DANA".
Finally, he called for "more human resources for town councils," requesting the repeal of the "Montoro Law" to expand staffing. "We want more resources because we want more democracy. In a democracy, it is the public that makes us equal," he concluded.
