RDRRMC 12 chairperson, OCD 12 Regional Director Raylindo Aniñon (extreme left) with the Council’s vice chairpersons, DSWD XII Regional Director Loreto Cabaya Jr. for Response Cluster, DOST 12 Regional Director Sammy Malawan (3rd from right) for Prevention and Mitigation Cluster, DILG 12 Local Government Capability Development Division Chief Jermie Erie-Yeager, representing Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa for Preparedness, and NEDA 12 Senior Economic Development Specialist Ricardo Lamorena (extreme right), representing Regional Director Teresita Socorro Ramos for Rehabilitation and Recovery Cluster. They were joined by Dir. Harold Cabreros from the OCD Central Office (3rd from left). (File Photo: PIA 12 SarGen)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 12 announced on Monday, November 27, the winners for this year’s 23rd Gawad KALASAG (GK) Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian Assistance for the Local DRRM Councils and Offices category.
This announcement was based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through the National Gawad KALASAG Committee, naming the list of awardees.
OCD 12 Regional Director Raylindo Aniñon said that for this year “there are 12 ‘Beyond Compliant and 33 Fully Compliant’ awardees from the local government units (LGU) in the Soccsksargen region.”
Taking pride in these accolades that were once again won by various LGUs in the region, Aniñon thanked the local government officials for their hard work, open-mindedness, and determination to improve and excel in DRR management for the benefit of their constituents.
These are now the fruits of your hard work, he said, as he congratulated them for showing their best foot forward.
The municipality of Columbio in Sultan Kudarat was one of the local government units in Soccsksargen that was rated “Beyond Compliant” for showing excellence in the implementation of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) programs and initiatives for its constituents in last year’s Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance for the Local DRRM Councils. It won the same award this year. (File Photo: PIA 12 SarGen)
Among the LGUs in the region ranked “Beyond Compliant,” which is the highest rating for excellence from the NDRRMC, were Sarangani province and its municipalities of Kiamba, Malapatan, and Malungon; Sultan Kudarat province and its component city, Tacurong, and its municipalities of Columbio and Kalamansig; the municipalities of Surallah and Tupi in South Cotabato and its component city, Koronadal; and the municipality of Alamada in Cotabato province.
Other local government units that were, on the other hand, rated “Fully Compliant” were Cotabato province and its component city, Kidapawan, and its municipalities of Arakan, Antipas, Carmen, Kabacan, Magpet, Matalam, M’lang, Midsayap, Libungan, Pigcawayan, and President Roxas; and South Cotabato and its municipalities of Lake Sebu, Norala, Polomolok, Sto. Niño, Tboli, and Tantangan.
These also included the municipalities of Alabel, Glan, Maasim, and Maitum in Sarangani; the municipalities of Bagumbayan, Esperanza, Isulan, Lambayong, Lebak, Lutayan, Palimbang, and President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat; and the only highly urbanized city in Soccsksargen, General Santos.
General Santos City, touted as Soccsksargen’s one and only highly urbanized city, was ranked “Fully Compliant” in 2022 Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian Assistance for the Local DRRM Councils, retaining the same award this year. (File Photo: PIA 12 SarGen)
Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) is an annual recognition that was conceived in 1998 for various stakeholders who promote and implement DRRM, climate change adaptation, and humanitarian assistance programs “to protect high-risk communities against extreme hazards and capacitate them to address their vulnerabilities.”
According to OCD, the GK has now transformed from just a mere Gawad Kalasag program into a GK Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance for the LDRRM Councils.
The award scheme is aimed at generating sustained commitment and support from LGUs and other DRRM practitioners by recognizing “their exceptional contributions in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of society and communities to disaster risks.”
Based on the GK guidelines, awardees can expect plaques of recognition and cash incentives for special awards, while beyond compliant and fully compliant LGUs shall be prioritized for funding assistance for DRRM projects.
OCD said that there will also be a regional award for the “Beyond Compliant and Fully Compliant LGUs” on December 19 to celebrate and honor them for their efforts to comply and even go the extra mile in ensuring that DRRM programs and local initiatives reach their respective communities.
Members of the Gawad Kalasag Regional Validation and Selection Committee conducted a field validation site at Tboli National High School in South Cotabato for the Special Awards category in June this year. (File Photo: PIA 12 SarGen)
Earlier, OCD 12 Assistant Regional Director Jerome Barranco, citing the GK guidelines, told members of the Regional Validation and Selection Committee that the DILG will be using the results of the GK Seal for LDRRMOs this year as its primary source for assessment in the conduct of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) in 2024.
Meanwhile, Director Aniñon also hailed key partners from national government agencies and other stakeholders for their support and cooperation not only during the Regional Gawad Kalasag validation in June but also during other DRRM-related tasks that needed their active involvement and participation.
He also urged members of the RDRRMC 12 and LGUs to increase their adaptability, vigilance, and preparedness for any disaster occurrences, given the recent magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit Soccsksargen and other areas in Mindanao.
“Let us continue to serve the people with the highest dedication and enthusiasm as we work to realize our vision of safer, adaptive, disaster-resilient Filipino communities towards sustainable development,” the official said. (CTA – PIA SarGen)
