Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence Award for Tagbilaran City

Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap (5th from right) joins (from left) Deputy Administrator for Operations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Philippines, Asec. Hernando M Caraig Jr.; National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director and (OCD) Administrator, Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno; Deputy Administrator for Administration of the (OCD), Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, Benhur Abalos Jr.; National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro; Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CDRRM) Officer, Gerard Lavadia;(CDRRM) Staff, Marko Emmanuel Longjas and Brenda Paga; and OCD Regional Office 7 (RO7) Director, Segundo Bolo. This was on the occasion of the recognition of the Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) for its outstanding contributions to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance. Mayor Yap, together with the DRRMO chief and some staff members, received the prestigious Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence-Beyond Compliant Local Government Unit Award at a ceremony held at the Manila Hotel on December 11, 2023.

TAGBILARAN City proudly received the prestigious Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence- Beyond Compliant Local Government Unit Award on December 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel.

This is in recognition of the City’s unwavering commitment to disaster and risk reduction management.

The award, given by the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Council during the 23rd Gawad Kalasag Seal for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance for CY 2023, applauded Tagbilaran City for its exceptional performance in the Local DRRM Council and Office category.

Officer Gerard Lavadia and Chao Longjas, accepted the esteemed award from National DRRMC Chair and Secretary of Department of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government SILG Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense Ariel Nepomuceno.

The recognition signifies Tagbilaran City’s dedication to going above and beyond compliance in ensuring the safety and resilience of its residents in the face of disasters and emergencies.

Mayor Yap expressed her gratitude for the honors, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of the entire community in building a resilient and prepared city.

She said, “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our City DRRM team and the vigilance of our community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents in the face of any adversity.”

The award also comes as a validation of Tagbilaran City’s comprehensive and proactive approach to disaster and risk reduction management.

The city’s initiatives, under the leadership of Mayor Yap and her predecessor former Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, have not only met but surpassed the standards set by Gawad Kalasag, positioning Tagbilaran City as a model for other local government units in the realm of disaster preparedness and response.

The Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence Award, regarded as the pinnacle of recognition in the field of disaster and risk reduction, commends local government units for their outstanding initiatives, innovations, and effectiveness in DRRM and humanitarian assistance.