BAGUIO CITY – The provincial government of Mountain Province (MP) was accorded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Council the “Beyond Compliant” Excellence Award during the 24th Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Award for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance.
The Gawad KALASAG, according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), is the government’s mechanism for obtaining sustained commitment and support by recognizing the exceptional contributions of DRRM practitioners in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of the nation. The acronym, KALASAG, stands for 𝗞𝗔lamidad at Sakuna 𝗟𝗔banan, 𝗦𝗔riling 𝗚aling ang Kaligtasan.
For this year’s GK seal and excellence award, a total of 19 local government units (LGUs) across the region of Cordillera were accorded as beyond compliant. Of these 19 LGUs, three are from Mountain Province. These include the MP provincial government and the municipal LGUs of Bontoc and Tadian. These beyond-compliant awardees were found to have exceeded the standards for the establishment and functionality of the local DRRM councils and offices (LDRRMCOs) as prescribed in the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 or Republic Act No. 10121.
In addition, 55 other LGUs were concurred as fully compliant and were found to be generally adherent to the standards for the establishment and functionality of the LDRRMCOs as prescribed in the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act o1 2010 or Republic Act No. 10121. Among these 55 LGUs include the municipal LGUs of Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Natonin, Paracelis, Sabangan, Sadanga, and Sagada.
Receiving the Seal of Excellence for the provincial government from Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director, Secretary Robert E.A. Borje and OCD-CAR Regional Director Albert A. Mogol during GK Awarding Ceremony at the Ivory Ballroom, ION Hotel, Baguio City on December 17, 2024, were Board Member Johnson D. Bantog II, representing PDRRM Council Chairperson and Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., together with Provincial DRRM Office Provincial Government Assistant Department Head Ian Neil D. Culallad, LDRRM officer Vivianne Audrey B. Luy-od, and administrative officer Joan F. Khayad.
Meanwhile, GK Special Awards were also given to three schools in MP, which are the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School and the Banguitan National High School for being regional finalists for the best public high school for 2024 and the Tadian Central School for being a regional finalist for the best public elementary school for 2024. These awards were given to the three said schools in recognition of their significant contributions and commitment in embracing the challenges of pursuing excellence in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in their respective community and for taking remarkable efforts in the implementation of a comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation program in pursuit of having a safer, adaptive, and disaster resilient community. By Hail, MP
