ON DECEMBER 2, 2024, ORMOC CITY was recognized as a fully compliant local government unit (LGU) during the respected 2024 Gawad Kalasag Awards, which happened at the People’s Center and Library in Tacloban City. This appreciation illustrates the city’s continuous commitment to disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and providing humanitarian aid.

The Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) is the Philippines’ most significant award for excellence in disaster risk reduction and management. It recognizes communities, organizations, and individuals who make outstanding efforts to save people’s lives, promote perseverance, and maintain safety standards; and this milestone portrays Ormoc City’s active approach to disaster risk reduction, which includes strategic planning, strong emergency response procedures, and community-driven efforts to resilience. Hence, this award builds up the city’s status as a regional leader in preparedness and safety. Finally, the Gawad Kalasag award not only recognizes Ormoc’s achievements, but also motivates other local governments and organizations to keep working on disaster preparedness and resilience. Indeed, with this recognition, Ormoc City continues to set an example for local administration and public security in the Philippines. (By James Gadiano / EV Mail December 2-8, 2024 issue)