A total of 16 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) localities were awarded with the ‘Gawad Kalasag’ for their disaster risk reduction and management initiatives, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monday, Dec. 5.
Gawad Kalasag is the country’s recognition and award scheme for various stakeholders who promote and implement Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM)-Climate Change Adaptation and humanitarian assistance programs that protect and shield high-risk communities against extreme hazards and render them more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities spearheaded by the National DRRM Council through the Office of Civil Defense.
The BARMM local government unit (LGU) awardees were recognized in the recent 22nd National Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance held in Cotabato City.
DILG Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr. personally handed out the Gawad Kalasag award to the 16 LGUs.
“This is a testament to your excellent public service and DRMM initiatives of the local government. Continue your efforts and give your best in raising the level of your public service in BARMM),’’ Abalos said.
“There’s a spirit of Bayanihan that is important in all of us and that is what you’ve done. You’ve acted far beyond the call of duty, even risking your own lives. Your sense of responsibility and vigilance before and during the crisis will always be known, will always be reported, and inscribed in our history,” he added.
Leading the awardees are Upi, Maguindanao Del Norte under the Beyond Compliant category. Fifteen other LGUs were also awarded under the Fully Compliant category which includes the Province of Maguindanao; Basilan Province; Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Guindulungan, Paglat, South Upi, and Sultan Sa Barongis, all from Maguindanao Del Sur; Bubong, Piagapo, and Wao all from Lanao Del Sur; Lamitan City and Tuburan both from Basilan; Talipao, Sulu; and Parang, Maguindanao Del Norte.
On the other hand, the Jolo Emergency Rescue Network (JERN) Inc. was the recipient of the Regional Award for Best Government Emergency Management and Response Teams (GEMs), while plaques of appreciation were also given to the Bangsamoro DRRM Council member agencies as well as DRRM Partners from both the public and the private sectors.
Bangsamoro Government representative and Ministry of Interior and Local Government BARMM Director General Khalid Dumagay said "By working together, headed by our common objectives of making lives easier for our people, our awardees despite the complex transition we currently are undergoing, coupled with natural and man-made calamities, you have proven that we in BARMM can cope with the best LGUs in the country."
A total of 135 Beyond Compliant LGUs, 436 Fully Compliant LGUs, and 16 Special Awardees have been awarded nationwide with the 22nd Gawad Kalasag and Special Awards.
Asenso MisOcc awardees
Abalos also handed plaques of appreciation to recipients of the 1st Asenso Misamis Occidental Honors and Awards Ceremony which he cited as “a celebration of the milestones that the province has attained over the years.”
Among the recipients of the outstanding Misamisnon award with groundbreaking contributions in their respective fields such as Department of Information and Communication Technology Secretary Ivan John E. Uy, lawyer Alexis M. Lumbatan, Dr. Ben S. Malayang III; Former Department of Education Undersecretary Francisco M. Varela; Mayor Rolando A. Uy, former governor and assemblyman Henry Y. Regalado and former congressman and governor Douglas R.A. Cagas.
Other awardees were Eunice Cez D. Encarnada, Dr. Victorio N. Cajita, Felicispin Tumanda, former senator and congressman Jose F. Ozamiz, former Department of Education Culture and Sports and Department of Science and Technology Secretary Dr. Ricardo T. Gloria and former Department of Health Secretary Dr. Hilarion J. Ramiro Jr.
Nineteen Misamisnon PNPA alumni and 27 alumni of the PMA were also honored during the maiden awarding ceremony. (Chito A. Chavez)