March 22, 2024

The Municipality of E. B. Magalona has received the 2023 Gawad KALASAG Seal for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) for being a "Fully Compliant LGU (Local Government Unit)," during the awarding ceremony at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City today.

The list of 2023 national awardees was first announced on November 27 last year by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through the National Gawad KALASAG Committee.

The National Committee said the Fully Compliant LGUs were "generally adherent to the standards for the establishment and functionality of the Local DRRMOs as prescribed in the Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine DRRMC Act of 2010."

Today, the GK seal was handed out to seven awardees of Fully Compliant LGUs by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-6 DRRM Division chief Ma. Aletha Nogra, who represented OCD regional director Raul Fernandez, during the awarding and orientation on Gawad KALASAG for the Province of Negros Occidental.

The activity was spearheaded by the Regional DRRM Council.

Receiving the GK Seal for E. B. Magalona was Municipal DRRMO head Mary Angeline Gustilo.

Mayor Marvin Malacon, who chairs the Local MDRRM Council, congratulated the MDRRM Office and thanked the MDRRM Council for working together in making the Municipality "fully compliant" with the guidelines and criteria set by the National DRRM Council.

"Your service, hard work, and commitment in helping our fellow Saraviahanon people especially in times of disasters, have put the Municipality of E. B. Magalona in the roster of excellent LGUs around the country in terms of disaster risk reduction and management," Malacon said.

KALASAG, a term for "shield" used by early Filipinos to protect them from the attacks of enemies, also stands for "KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan."

Gawad KALASAG, or GK, serves as the country's recognition and award scheme for LGUs and other stakeholders that promote disaster risk reduction and management scheme.

It can be recalled that the Municipality of E. B. Magalona also received the same GK Seal for being a Fully Compliant LGU in 2022.*

E. B. MAGALONA PIO
Photos from Provincial Capitol PIO