BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental and 10 local government units, through their respective Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils, were among the LGUs recognized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, as among the national awardees of the 2022 Gawad KALASAG Seal for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance.
The PDRRMC chaired by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, as well as DRRMCs of highly urbanized Bacolod City, and the cities of Bago and Sipalay got the Beyond Compliant Seal for Excellence.
On the other hand, the DRRMCs of EB Magalona, Isabela, and the cities of Talisay, Silay, San Carlos, Himamaylan and La Carlota got the Fully Compliant Seal for Excellence.
The date for the 22nd GK National Awarding Ceremony, which will be done virtually, is yet to be announced.
Mayor Marvin Malacon, chair of the EB Magalona MDRRM Council, congratulated the MDRRM Office, headed by Mary Angeline Gustilo, and thanked the council for working together in making the Municipality “fully compliant” to the guidelines and criteria set by the National DRRM Council.
“Your hard work and selflessness in helping our fellow Saraviahanons in times of disasters did not go unnoticed. Your brand of service is what put the Municipality of EB Magalona in the roster of excellent LGUs in the country in terms of disaster risk reduction and management,” Malacon told the members and personnel of the MDRRM Council and Office.
KALASAG, the term for shield used by early Filipinos to protect them from attacks of enemies, also stands for “KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan.”
Mayor Neil Lizares also commended the Talisay City DRRMC for a job well done.
Gawad KALASAG, or GK, serves as the country’s recognition and award scheme for LGUs and other stakeholders that promote disaster risk reduction and management scheme.
The list of awardees was posted by the Office of the Civil Defense on its Facebook page.
There are 135 Beyond Compliant and 436 Fully Compliant LGUs Awardees.*
