The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) bestowed the “Gawad Kalasag Seal” to outstanding local government units (LGUs), groups and individuals who actively promoted and implemented disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and humanitarian assistance programs.
Gawad Kalasag is the government’s primary recognition scheme for stakeholders who promote and implement disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation, and humanitarian assistance programs that protect high-risk communities against extreme hazards and disasters.
President Marcos Jr. led the 24th Gawad Kalasag National Awarding Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Friday, Dec. 13.
Among the awardees were students John Niño Suarez and Emer Jhune Donaire, who were recognized for their bravery in saving a drowning victim at Lawis Marine Sanctuary Park in Poro, Cebu during the “amihan” season on March 18, 2023.
At the time, bad weather caused by "amihan" or northeast monsoon brought isolated rains and flooding in their community.
The two students rescued the victim despite facing huge amihan waves. Both were trained in basic life support since they were part of the Youth Responders of Luciano B. Rama Sr. Memorial National High School in Poro town but they were not trained for water rescue, making their actions commendable.
They received the Gawad Kalasag Seal, certificate of commendation, and P50,000 each.
Meanwhile, the following LGUs were honored under the Local DRRM Councils and Offices (LDRRMCOs) category:
- Best Province: Occidental Mindoro
- Best Municipality (1st to 3rd Class Category): Malungon, Sarangani
-Best Municipality (4th to 6th Class Category): Cagwait, Surigao Del Sur
- Best Highly Urbanized City: City of Caloocan
- Best Component City: Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat
- Best Independent Component City: Santiago City, Isabela
The NDRRMC said a total of 424 LGUs were rated as “beyond compliant” to the established parameters toward achieving national resilience, while 866 LGUS were rated as “fully compliant.”
Meanwhile, the "Hall of Fame Award" was presented to organizations that have consistently excelled in three consecutive Gawad Kalasag cycles:
- Alasasin Elementary School (Public Elementary School Category)
- Federation Iloilo Fire Brigade, Inc. (Volunteer Organization Category)
- Socio Pastoral Action Center Foundation, Inc. (Civil Society Organization Category)
- SN Aboitiz-Power Magat, Inc. (Private Organization Category)
Other first placers in the Special Awards Category include:
- Camp Tinio National High School (Public High School Category)
- University of Cordilleras (Higher Education Institution Category)
- Catarman Emergency Response Unit (Government Emergency Management Systems and Response Team Category)
- City of Ilagan Medical Center (Local Government Hospital Category)
- Cagayan Valley Medical Center (National Government Hospital Category)
Special recognitions were also awarded to individuals and groups for their extraordinary acts of heroism and commitment to disaster risk reduction and management:
- Special Recognition (Individual Category): Rafael “Paeng" C. Valencia, for innovative contributions to climate change and DRRM policies.
- Special Recognition (Group Category): 525th Combat Engineer Battalion, for their rapid response to disasters and humanitarian crises.
NDRRMC Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the past few months have emphasized the need for disaster risk reduction awareness among Filipinos. The country was hit in November by six consecutive typhoons which claimed hundreds of lives and caused billions worth of destruction to the agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
He said it is the responsibility of the national government to cascade disaster risk awareness down to the lowest political unit, the barangay, and every citizen “with the end in view of developing conditioned responses to particular emergencies.”
“We thank the local government units present for their leadership within their communities for tailoring disaster risk reduction measures to the specific requirements of the different communities down to the barangay level. And we thank our civic organizations in the cause of resilience for the Philippines to make a strong Philippines under the theme Bagong Pilipinas,” Teodoro said.