Gawad Kalasag – Philippines

Gawad Kalasag, which translates to “Shield Award” in English, is an award given in the Philippines to Gawad KALASAG (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) represents the country’s premier recognition scheme for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).

Organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), this is not merely an award – it is a Seal of Excellence. It validates that a Local Government Unit (LGU), organization, or individual has surpassed the benchmarks for safety, resilience, and emergency response capabilities.

1. Core Objectives: Beyond Recognition

While the program aims to honor outstanding contributions, its deeper objectives facilitate national standardization of safety protocols:

  • Standardization: To assess the compliance of LGUs with the provisions of RA 10121 (The Philippine DRRM Act of 2010).
  • Localization: To ensure that national standards are effectively implemented at the barangay, municipal, city, and provincial levels.
  • Innovation: To identify and promote unique, localized solutions to disaster challenges that can be replicated nationally.

2. The Shift: From “Contest” to “Assessment”

Unlike in the past, where entities competed solely for a “Best in [Category]” title, the modern Gawad KALASAG focuses on competency assessment. LGUs are now evaluated to determine their level of adherence to the National DRRM standards.

The Assessment Tiers (LGU Category)

LGUs are evaluated and awarded the Gawad KALASAG Seal based on two prestigious ratings:

  • Fully Compliant: Awarded to LGUs that have met the standard technical requirements and operational capabilities mandated by the NDRRMC.
  • Beyond Compliant: The highest distinction. This is awarded to LGUs that not only meet the standards but exceed them through innovation, best practices, and superior institutional capacity.

3. Special Awards & Categories

In addition to the mandatory LGU assessment, Gawad KALASAG continues to honor specific sectors through Special Awards. Categories often include:

  • Civil Society & Volunteerism:
    • Best Civil Society Organization (CSO)
    • Best Volunteer Group
    • Best People’s Organization (PO)
  • Education & Health:
    • Best DRRM-Adaptive School (Public/Private)
    • Best Hospital/Government Emergency Management Station (GEMS)
  • Heroism:
    • Heroic Act Award: Recognizing individuals or groups who exhibited extraordinary courage during actual disaster response operations (Living or Posthumous).

4. The Rigorous Selection Process

The credibility of the Gawad KALASAG lies in its multi-tiered validation process:

  1. Regional Desk Evaluation: The Regional Selection Committee (RSC) assesses documents and claims.
  2. Field Validation: Experts conduct on-site inspections to verify equipment, command centers, and personnel readiness.
  3. National Deliberation: Regional winners and high-rating LGUs are elevated to the National Selection Committee (NSC) for final vetting.

5. Why This Seal Matters

Winning the Gawad KALASAG or achieving a “Beyond Compliant” rating is a critical indicator of good governance.

Community Trust: It assures citizens that their local government is equipped, trained, and ready to protect lives during calamities.

SGLG Requirement: Performance in DRRM is often a key criterion for the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

Investor Confidence: A resilient city is a safe city for investment. The seal signals to the private sector that the LGU has robust mechanisms to protect businesses and infrastructure.

IMAGE GALLERY

Gawad Kalasag

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