CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC)-10 awarded the Gawad Kalasag Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance to 42 local government units in the region on December 2.

Established in 1998, the Gawad Kalasag (GK) Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance has served as the country’s recognition and award scheme for 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 them more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities.

"The Gawad Kalasag, now in its 22nd year, is the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's annual Search for Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in DRRM and humanitarian assistance. It honors the outstanding achievements of local DRRM councils, as well as managers and practitioners from government agencies and institutions, civil society organizations, and individuals who advocate and implement rights-based, gender-responsive, and inclusive disaster risk reduction," Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-10 Regional Director and RDRRMC-10 Chairperson Antonio Sugarol said.

Sugarol added that the award aims to promote inclusivity, and encourages wider and greater participation as well as equal opportunity for all stakeholders in the promotion and sustainability of disaster risk reduction - climate change adaptation innovations and best practices, as it aims to strengthen disaster resilience through a whole-of-society approach.

Six local government units received the "beyond compliant" award, which means they exceeded the criteria for the establishment and functionality of the LDRRMCOs, as outlined in Sections 11 and 12 of Republic Act 10121, and 36 received the "fully compliant" award, meaning the LGUs had generally complied with the guidelines for the establishment and functionality of LDRRMCOs.

In addition to the LGUs, three special awards were given to three institutions in the region that were declared and endorsed as regional finalists for the National GK Special Awards category: Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (EcoWEB, Inc.) for civil society organizations, Camiguin Polytechnic State College for volunteer organizations, and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental Emergency Response Team, for government emergency management and response teams (GEMs).

OCD Undersecretary for Civil Defense Administration Raymundo Ferrer commended the honorees and stakeholders in the region as being an instrument in the significant growth of the people's chances and opportunities to survive and thrive in the face of emergencies and threats caused by natural hazards.

"May your efforts not end here, but rather, may they become more effective as they are tested by time. Be relentless in reinventing your strategies so that they will remain responsive to the changing demands of the disaster risk reduction landscape. Cultivate the unique ingenuity of the Filipino as you develop more means to face the challenges of climate change," says Ferrer.

The following LGUs received the Beyond Compliant award: Valencia City, Bukidnon; Impasugong, Bukidnon; Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte; Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; and Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

Meanwhile, the fully compliant awardees are as follows: Cagayan de Oro City; Iligan City; Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; Cabanglasan, Bukidnon; Kadingilan, Bukidnon; Kalilangan, Bukidnon; Kitaotao, Bukidnon; Lantapan, Bukidnon; Libona, Bukidnon; Malitbog, Bukidnon; Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; Maramag, Bukidnon; Pangantucan, Bukidnon; Quezon, Bukidnon; San Fernando, Bukidnon; Sumilao, Bukidnon; Mambajao, Camiguin; Sagay, Camiguin; Bacolod, Lanao del Norte; Balo-i, Lanao del Norte; Baroy, Lanao del Norte; Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; Maigo, Lanao del Norte; Matungao, Lanao del Norte; Sapad, Lanao del Norte; Aloran, Misamis Occidental; Calamba, Misamis Occidental; Jimenez, Misamis Occidental; Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental; Plaridel, Misamis Occidental; Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental; Tudela, Misamis Occidental; Opol, Misamis Oriental; Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental; and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. (JAKA/PIA-10)