Xavier University received a Plaque of Commendation from the Northern Mindanao Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the recently concluded 22nd Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian Assistance held on December 2, 2022, at Mallberry Suites Business Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City. Xavier University is an active member of the Northern Mindanao DRRM Council and formed part of the Regional Validation Committee (RVC) under the GK Seal for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and Offices (LDRRMCO) Category.
Plaque of Commendation were awarded to the members of the Regional Validation Committee (RVC) of the 22nd GK Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance. The RVC for Region 10 was led by the OCD-10 and participated by XU, DILG, DOST, NEDA, DOH, and Philippine Red Cross Northern Mindanao Chapter.
Photo by: Office of Civil Defense – 10
The Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) Seal and Special Awards seeks to recognize the significant contributions of LGUs and various stakeholders in strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of communities to disaster risk. Xavier University, together with the other members of the RVC led by the Office of Civil Defense - Region 10, conducted a desk review and validation of the accomplished LDRRMCO Self-Assessment Tool and all evidentiary documents attached as Means of Verifications (MOV). After validating the submitted toolkits and MOVs, the committee deliberated and finalized the list of "Fully Compliant" and "Beyond Compliant" LGUs. The toolkit and MOVs of these LGUs were endorsed to the Gawad KALASAG National Selection Committee (NSC) for Conditional Virtual Assessment and Joint National Deliberation.
Forty-five (45) Local Government Units (LGU) in Northern Mindanao passed the evaluation, with eight (8) LGUs classifying as Beyond Compliant and thirty-seven (37) LGUs as Fully Compliant. LGUs exceeding the criteria on the establishment and functionality of the LDRRMCO received the Beyond Compliant recognition. Meanwhile, LGUs generally complying with the guidelines for the establishment and functionality of LDRRMCOs were recognized as Fully Compliant. The Beyond Compliant LGUs were Valencia City and Impasug-ong from the Province of Bukidnon, the municipalities of Kapatagan, Kolambugan, Sulatan Naga Dimaporo, and Tubod from the Province of Lanao del Norte, and the Provincial LGUs of Misamis Occidental and Bukidnon.
USEC Raymundo B. Ferrer, Office of Civil Defense Administrator and National DRRM Council Executive Director, gave his Message as the Guest of Honor during the awarding ceremony of the 22nd GK Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance.
Photo by: Office of Civil Defense – 10
Undersecretary Raymundo B. Ferrer, Office of Civil Defense Administrator and National DRRM Council Executive Director, graced the awarding ceremony as the Guest of Honor. Usec Ferrer led the awarding of the plaques of recognition to the LGUs and CSOs. In his speech, Usec Ferrer highlighted how "the efforts of the honorees and stakeholders of Northern Mindanao and across the archipelago have been instrumental to the significant growth of our people's chances and opportunities to survive and thrive in the face of the ever-looming threats of natural hazards". He further encouraged the DRRM practitioners in region 10 "to further strengthen the local DRRM efforts to complement that of the national endeavor, not simply for the sake of achieving the distinction of the Gawad KALASAG, but for the ultimate goal of keeping our people safe and prosperous."
Xavier University receives Plaque of Commendation for its participation as Regional Validator in the 22nd GK Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance. In photos (L-R): OCD 10 Regional Director Antonio B. Sugarol, XU Assistant to the VP for Social Development, Ms Therese Rhea Rose Baliwag, and OCD 10 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division Chief, Mr. Gilbert H. Conde.
Photo by: Philippine Information Agency – 10
The members of the Regional Validation Committee (RVC) of the 22nd GK Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance, led by the OCD-10 and participated by XU, DILG, DOST, NEDA, DOH, and Philippine Red Cross Northern Mindanao Chapter. The RVC facilitated the conduct of the GK Seal Desk validation.
Photo by: Office of Civil Defense – 10