Iloilo, 18 LGUs get Gawad KALASAG Seal of Excellence
ILOILO – The province of Iloilo and 18 of its local government units (LGUs) were awardees for the 23rd Gawad KALASAG Seal of Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian Assistance.
Organized by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6’ s Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), the regional awarding ceremony was held at the Grand Social Hall of Casa Real de Iloilo on Feb. 2.
The province and the local governments of Alimodian, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Carles, Dumangas, Lambunao, Leganes, Leon, Maasin, Mina, Passi City, Pototan, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Zarraga, and Dingle were recognized as “fully compliant”.
Pavia LGU, meanwhile, was declared as “beyond compliant”.
Gawad KALASAG, which stands for “Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing Ang Kaligtasan” (Combat Disasters and Calamities, SelfEfficiency Ensures Safety), is a national search for excellence in disaster risk reduction and management, and humanitarian assistance.
Cindy Ferrer, OCD- 6 i nformation officer and s pokesperson, f urther explained that LGUs are conferred with the Gawad KALASAG Seal of Excellence after they have been found to be generally adherent to the standards for the establishment and functionality of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and Offices (LDRRMCOs) as prescribed in the Republic Act No. 10121 ( Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010).
Established in 1998, the Gawad KALASAG Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance has served as the country’s premier recognition and award scheme f or various stakeholders who promote and implement disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation ( DRRM- CCA), and humanitarian assistance programs that protect and shield high risk communities against extreme hazards and render t hem more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., in his message delivered by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias during the awarding ceremony, said the Gawad KALASAG is a prestigious award that showcases the best practices and models of resilience in the face of natural and man-made hazards. It is also a testament to the spirit of bayanihan and the culture of excellence that we Filipinos are known for.
“Gov. Toto is always proud to say that our province is one of the most active and committed partners of the Office of Civil Defense in pursuing the goals and objectives of the Gawad KALASAG. We believe that this award is not only a recognition but also a challenge and an inspiration for us to continuously improve our capacities and capabilities in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation,” Banias said.
In line with this, Banias added that the provincial government launched the MoRProGRes Iloilo, which stands for Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo. It is the development vision that aims to position Iloilo as an ideal investment destination by developing the fundamentals of the economy, such as power and energy, water, telecommunications, and infrastructure.
One of the key components of the MoRProGRes Iloilo is the attainment of the Seal of the Gawad Kalasag, which is a mandatory assessment for LDRRMCOs.
The provincial administrator further revealed that Defensor and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office under its chief, retired police colonel Cornelio Salinas, will soon release funding assistance to all the municipalities and the City of Passi for LDRRMCOs.
“Once again, Gov. Toto congratulates all the awardees and finalists of the Gawad KALASAG. You are the true heroes and champion of DRRM”, Banias concluded./