The Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) won the national KALASAG Award from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
The award, which is the Seal of Excellence in Humanitarian Assistance, was received by the PDRRMO on Dec. 7, 2022 at the Manila Hotel according to PDRRMO head Dr. Anthony Damalerio.
Damalerio said that Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Benhur Abalos and Defense Sec. Jose Faustino Jr. presented the award to Bohol as witnessed by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief, Raymundo Ferrer and OCD regional director Segundo Bolo.
Earlier, the PDRRMO bagged the regional KALASAG award for its ability to respond to crisis situations.
The PDRRMO, via its operations arm which is TaRSIER 117, has faced a number of emergency situations such as the earthquake in 2013 and typhoon Odette in 2021, among others.
Established in 1998, the Gawad KALASAG Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance has served as the country’s recognition and award scheme for various stakeholders who promote and implement disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation and humanitarian assistance programs that protect and shield high risk communities against extreme hazards and render them more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities.
Its aim is to be a mechanism to obtain sustained commitment and support by recognizing exceptional contributions of DRRM practitioners in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of various aspects of society and communities to disaster risks.
Based on past experiences and lessons learned, the Gawad KALASAG program was transformed into Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance and adopted a mandatory assessment of all LGUs, specifically provinces, cities and municipalities and critical institutions; continued competition for Civil Society Organizations and special recognition for individuals and organizations.