- GILBERT P. BAYORAN & CHERYL G. CRUZ
The highly-urbanized Bacolod City, province of Negros Occidental, and seven of its local government units have been assessed as “Fully Compliant”, in the 23rd Gawad KALASAG (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) Seal, the Office of Civil Defense said Nov. 27.
Two other LGUs in the province are “Beyond Compliant”, the OCD added.
The seven other “Fully Compliant” LGUs are the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, La Carlota, and San Carlos, and the towns of EB Magalona and Manapla.
“Beyond Compliant” are Bago and Sipalay.
As per the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) guidelines for the 23rd GK Seal and Special Awards, a local DRRM council and office that garnered a 1.50 to 2.49 rating are Fully Compliant, while Beyond Compliant are those with a 2.50 to 3.0 rating.
The NDRRMC awards the Gawad KALASAG (GK) Seal to LGUs that adhere to the standards in the establishment and functionality of the LDRRMCs and LDRRMOs as mandated under Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
Derived from the Filipino term for “shield”, kalasag historically serves as a protective barrier against adversaries and harmful elements. Correspondingly, this recognition was conceived to function as a shield for high-risk communities, fostering the active engagement of various stakeholders in designing and implementing effective DRRM programs.
The NDRRMC, through the National Gawad KALASAG Committee, said 256 LGUs are Beyond Compliant and 723 Fully Compliant for the 23rd GK Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance for the Local DRRM councils and offices category.
Bacolod’s “remarkable accomplishment reflects the dedication to excellence in disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance,” the city Public Information Office said.
Mayor Neil Lizares, meanwhile, said he is proud to report to all Talisaynons this latest achievement for the second year in a row, adding the “pioneering effort since 2016 in the field of disaster preparedness is visionary and is ingrained in Asenso Talisay’s program of good governance”.
E.B. Magalona also won the same award last year, being among the 436 compliant LGUs.
In a statement, Mayor Marvin Malacon congratulated the Municipal DRRM Office, led by Mary Angeline Gustilo, and thanked them for working together in making the town “fully compliant” with the guidelines and criteria set by the NDRRMC.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Negros Occidental lauded the LGUs for their exemplary commitment to excellence in disaster management.
“Let us persist in our collaborative efforts to build a safe, resilient, and progressive province of Negros Occidental,” the DILG said in a statement.
Established in 1998, the GK Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance has served as the country’s recognition and award scheme for stakeholders that promote and implement disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation, and humanitarian assistance programs, NDRRMC chairperson Carlito Galvez Jr said in Memorandum Circular 001-2023.
He added that the GK program was transformed into the GK Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance, and adopted as a mandatory assessment for all LGUs./GB, CGC
