BAGUIO CITY – After the awarding ceremony last January 18, the Cordillera office of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-CAR), as the chair for the Regional Gawad KALASAG, opens this year’s search for excellence in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance.
The regional selection committee (RSC) is now accepting entries from organizations, institutions, groups, and individuals with outstanding performances in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of nations and communities to disaster risk through their exceptional contributions in the field of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).
Entries to be submitted should cover efforts and services rendered for the calendar year 2016 and must be sent to the OCD-CAR office on or before April 3, 2017.
There are more than 20 categories to join in such as local DRRM Councils in the province, city, municipal, and barangay level; civil society and other non-government organizations; people’s organization on humanitarian assistance; Government Emergency Management Service groups; private volunteer organizations; hospitals; schools from early learning centers to higher educational institutions; heroic acts of individuals and groups; and special recognition awards for individuals and stakeholders.
Entries will be assessed by the members of RSC through desk evaluation and field validation using checklists and guidance noted provided by the national Gawad KALASAG committee.
The winners in each category from the regional level and national level will receive plaques of recognition and cash awards that can be spent for DRRM-related activities. For the regional level winners, the following awards are as follows: 1st Place – P 50,000.00; 2nd Place – P 30,000.00; 3rd Place – 15,000.00. The recipients of Heroic Act and Special Recognition Awards at the regional level will receive plaques of recognition only.
On the other hand, the awards for national winners are as follows: 1st Place – P100,000.00; 2nd Place – 75,000.00; 3rd Place – P 50,000.00. For Heroic Act Category, a maximum of three (3) awardees can be granted with P 100,000.00 each.
All first place winners per category at the regional level that have been duly endorsed to the national selection committee (NSC) shall compete at the national level. Those who have won first place at the national level for three (3) consecutive years in the same category will be given a Hall of Fame award. No Hall of Fame award is conferred at the regional level.
Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at SAkuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) is the government’s way of recognizing initiatives in promoting the spirit of volunteerism among agencies and individuals by encouraging participation of various stakeholders in designing and implementing DRRM programs.
For interested entrants, guidelines and criteria for assessing are downloadable from OCD-CAR’s website: civildefensecordillera.com.ph.
By Ma. Theresita C. Garcia
