The Municipality of Puerto Galera has achieved a milestone in disaster preparedness, receiving the prestigious “Beyond Compliant Award” at the 24th Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence ceremony on Jan. 16, 2025 for surpassing national standards in disaster risk reduction and management.

During the regional awarding ceremony held at the Manila Prince Hotel, Mayor Rocky D. Ilagan, who serves as the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) Chairperson, and Local DRRM Officer Gemma M. Adarme accepted the distinguished recognition. The ceremony was organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The coastal municipality demonstrated exceptional performance by achieving a score of 2.69 in its comprehensive assessment of disaster risk reduction, management, and humanitarian assistance capabilities. This score reflects the municipality’s commitment to implementing robust disaster preparedness measures that go beyond basic compliance requirements.

The award, authenticated by NDRRMC Chairperson and Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.’s signature, specifically commends Puerto Galera for “exceeding the standards for the establishment and functionality of the LDRRMCOs as prescribed in the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 or Republic Act No. 10121.”

The municipality’s achievement is particularly noteworthy given the rigorous evaluation criteria of the Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence, which assesses various aspects of disaster preparedness, including implementation of disaster risk reduction programs; emergency response capabilities; coordination mechanisms with various stakeholders; infrastructure and resources for disaster management; and community engagement and preparedness initiatives.

The award ceremony was attended by representatives from various local government units across the region and featured multiple government agencies involved in disaster risk reduction and management.

Mayor Ilagan said the recognition shows Puerto Galera’s emergence as a model for other municipalities in implementing comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies and maintaining high standards of emergency preparedness.