The Regional Validation Committee for the 2023 Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance on July 11, 2023 has started the roundtable discussion to validate the Means of Verifications (MOVs) at the Command Center Conference Room.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. accompanied Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rudy Simeon, and some department heads and officers-in-charge in presenting the MOVs.

Richard Santos, Reymart Mangune, Ryan Paul Roxas from the Office for Civil Defense Region 3, Michael John Rivera from the Department of Science and Techonology Region 3, Juanito Zapanta from the National Economic and Development Authority Region 3, Romar Magat from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Juan Karlo Punzalan from the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 3 are serving as validators.

The Gawad KALASAG Search covers major categories and special recognitions for government agencies and institutions, local government units, civil society organizations, private sectors, and individuals who have engaged in the promotion of inclusive DRR-Climate Change Adaptation.

KALASAG was adopted from the Filipino term for shield, ‘kalasag’, used by early Filipinos as a means of protection from attacks of enemies or harmful animals.

It was established as the country’s premier recognition scheme to various stakeholders that design and implement DRRM programs that protect and shield high risk communities against hazards and render them more capable of addressing their vulnerabilities and coping from disasters.