The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is setting its sights on achieving the prestigious ‘Beyond Compliant’ title in the Gawad Kalasag Awards. This comes after the office was recognized as a Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence Fully Compliant awardee, improving its performance rating from 2.09% to 3%.
PDRRMO Head Fernando Vincent Dy, Jr. expressed confidence in securing this recognition due to the structured programs implemented over the past year. He highlighted that collaboration has been instrumental in their achievement, particularly through regular discussions with Governor Peter “Sr. Pedro” Unabia to refine disaster response plans.
Several key indicators contribute to the office’s eligibility for this award, including physical office structure, office competency, management systems, legal frameworks, overall disaster response knowledge, partnerships and participation, evacuation management systems, and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) operations center.
The PDRRMO considers the Gawad Kalasag Award, given by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in partnership with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), as the highest recognition in disaster preparedness and response.
In addition to striving for excellence, the PDRRMO has assured the public of its unwavering commitment to readiness, particularly in emergency response. This marks the first time the province has been recognized as a Gawad Kalasag Awardee, with the national awarding ceremony taking place in December 2024 in the capital.
The pursuit of this recognition aligns with the province’s Sustainable Development and Poverty Intervention (SDPI) Program and the PAGLAUM development agenda, particularly under the pillar of Participatory Governance, spearheaded by Governor Unabia. Through these efforts, the province aims to mitigate hardships and enhance disaster resilience for its constituents.
