CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - - The Provincial Government of Isabela (PGI) was adjudged as “Fully Compliant” on disaster risk reduction and management during the 2022 National Gawad KALASAG awarding ceremony held in Manila Hotel on December 7, 2022 led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Atty. Constante Foronda received the award in behalf of the provincial government.

Fully compliant Local Government Units (LGUs) are those that generally adhere to the standards for the establishment and functionality of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices. 

The NDRRMC said that there are 135 Beyond Compliant and 436 Fully Compliant LGU-awardees this year.

“Isabela was not supposed to join the Gawad Kalasag search this year. As many may know, we were the recipient of the prestigious award for three consecutive years before and that elevated us to the Gawad Kalasag Hall of Fame. That rare feat required a lot of preparation. Since then, we have avoided joining to give other PDRRM Councils a chance to the notable recognition,” PDRRMO Foronda said.

“Our ultimate goal in Isabela is to serve the people. The opportunity to serve and raising the bar in the culture of preparedness and resiliency is a reward in itself, far more important than all the awards and accolades combined,” Foronda further said.

In 2019, PDRRMC-Isabela solidified its status as the country’s DRRM champion after winning the Best PDRRMC in the Philippines at the 19th Gawad Kalasag Award, a third consecutive win, thus paving the way for its induction into the elite Hall of Fame. 

The Hall of Fame is a mechanism aimed at elevating an individual or institution to a league of its own after showing consistency and diligence in demonstrating excellence in a competition. 

The Gawad KALASAG (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing Ang Kaligtasan) Search for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance serves as a recognition and award scheme of the country for various stakeholders who promote and implement DRRM, climate change adaptation and humanitarian programs that protect and shield high-risk communities against extreme hazards and render them more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities. (OTB/With reports from Isabela PIO/MGE / PIA Isabela)