CAGWAIT, Surigao del Sur -- The local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) council of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur chaired by Mayor Glenn Batiancila, through the municipal DRRM office headed by Nerissa T. Plaza, was declared the Maharlika Awardee of the Caraga Regional Gawad KALASAG Seal as Beyond Compliant, that garnered the highest rating of a perfect score of 3.0 amongst the participating local government units in Caraga, from the regional validating committee (RVC) of the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,  during the Caraga Regional Awarding of Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Awards on August 14, 2023 in Butuan City.

The Gawad KALASAG is a seal and a special award of excellence in DRRM, as facilitated by the Caraga DRRMC led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). It  is the country’s premier recognition scheme for various stakeholders and LGUs that design and implement DRRM programs to protect and shield high-risk communities against hazards and render them more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities and coping from disasters.

The LGU of Cagwait bagged the following prestigious awards namely,  Beyond Compliant with the highest rating of 3.0 and being the Top against the 74 participating LGUs in the region; Maharlika Award; and the Masinop Award.

The term “Maharlika” signifies a first-class warrior. This award indicates that the LGU has not only been awarded the prestigious KALASAG or “shield” ( Ginawaran ng Gintong Kalasag) but has also emerged as the recipient of the Gawad Kalasag Seal for LDRRMCOs.

While the MASINOP Award recognizes the LGU that exhibits outstanding level of tidiness and organizational prowess in the submission of mandated documents or files. It signifies that the LDRRMCO has diligently, conscientiously, and meticulously prepared its entry, ensuring ease of perusal for crucial legal documents, memoranda, resolutions, and other forms of verification. This meticulousness contributes to enhanced accuracy in the evaluation process. (Photo credit to MDRRMO-Cagwait/NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)