TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- The Surigao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council  chaired by Governor Alexander T. Pimentel, and 9 other local DRRM councils in the province received the “Beyond Compliant” award during the Caraga Regional Awarding of Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan)  Seal for Local Government Units and Special Awards in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance for CY 2023,  on August 14, 2023, at Almont Inland Resort, Butuan City, as spearheaded by the Caraga Regional DRRM Council led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga.

Other eight local DRRM councils received the same award, to wit:
1. Tandag City;
2. Cagwait;
3. Carmen;
4. Carrascal;
5. Cortes;
6. Hinatuan;
7. Lanuza;
8. Marihatag; and
9. Tagbina.

Further, the local government unit of Cagwait of this province was declared as the Maharlika Awardee, as the most distinguished local DRRMC for garnering the highest score of 3.0. in the region.

The local DRRMCs of Barobo; Bayabas; Bislig City; Cantilan; Lianga; Madrid; and Tago were awarded as “Fully Compliant,” while the local DRRMCs of Lingig; and San Miguel were recognized as Partially Compliant.

The RDRRMC revealed the Gawad KALASAG seals and plaques were received by the local chief executives of the five provinces, six cities, and sixty-three municipalities), school heads, hospital directors, and presidents/executive directors of the organizations.

Gawad KALASAG is an annual recognition program in the Philippines that recognizes outstanding efforts in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and humanitarian assistance. The awards are given to individuals, groups, organizations, and local government units that have shown excellence in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. (NGPB, PIA-Surigso del Sur)