OCD-BARMM holds 21st Gawad KALASAG regional awarding

COTABATO CITY --- Various local government units from across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao received recognition for their outstanding contributions to disaster risk reduction and management during the 21st Gawad KALASAG regional awarding ceremony conducted by the region’s Office of the Civil Defense (OCD-BARMM) last August 2.

Raylindo Aniñon, regional director of OCD-BARMM, said that the Gawad KALASAG was established to give recognition or honor to various stakeholders who design and implement the disaster risk reduction and management programs aimed at protecting and shielding various communities against disasters.

“The concept of Gawad KALASAG was adopted from the Filipino term ‘to shield’ which was used by early Filipinos as a means of protection from attacks of enemies or harmful animals,” Aniñon explained.

Gawad KALASAG, or the Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan, is the country’s premier annual awards for outstanding contributions in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance.

Plaques and Certificates of Recognition were awarded to the following LGUs:

Best City DRRMC – Lamitan City, Basilan; Best Municipal DRRMC 1st-3rd class municipality – Upi, Maguindanao (finalist), Wao, Lanao del Sur (winner); Best Municipal DRRMC 4th-6th class municipality – Paglat and South Upi, Maguindanao (finalists), Datu Abdullah Sangki, Magundanao (winner).

The OCD-BARMM has also recognized Barangay Limo-ok in Lamitan City, Basilan as Best Barangay DRRM committee; Barangay Busbus in Jolo , Sulu as Best Volunteer Organization; Jolo Emergency Rescue Network as Best Government Emergency Management; and awarded the Heroic Act Award to Emergency Response Network – Lanao del Sur.

“Yung mga awards na nakuha niyo ay patunay po na dito sa rehiyon natin, maliban dun sa lagi tayong dinadalaw ng mga disasters, ay mayroon tayong mga local government units, institutions, at individuals na palaging preparado para i-address yung pagdating ng disaster,” said Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, who was the event’s guest speaker.

“Kaya po natutuwa ako na yung Office of the Civil Defense ay patuloy na nire-recognize yung kagalingan ng mga individuals, government institutions, at saka private organizations na katuwang natin sa pagresponde sa disasters,” Sinarimbo added.

The awarding of the Gawad KALASAG also marked the culmination of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM).

The OCD-BARMM gave Plaques of Appreciation to its NDRM partners such as the BARMM’s Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Social Services, 6th Infantry ‘Kampilan’ Division, PAGASA, and PHIVOLCS Cotabato Station, among others. (BPI-BARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)