ANTIQUE – The Province of Antique sustained its strong performance in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) after earning its fifth consecutive Gawad Kalasag recognition during the 2026 Regional VI DRRM Assessment Recognition Ceremony held Monday at the JCMC Hall of the ANIAD Building, New Capitol.
The award was turned over by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Raul Fernandez to Governor Paolo Javier and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Broderick Train.
Antique received a Gold Category rating with a score of 2.87, reflecting the province’s consistent commitment to disaster preparedness, response, and resilience-building.
Governor Javier thanked the OCD, provincial DRRM partners, and local government units for their sustained collaboration in strengthening disaster preparedness and response systems.
Alongside the provincial government, the municipalities of Valderrama and San Jose de Buenavista also earned Gold Category distinctions, with scores of 2.60 and 2.84, respectively. The recognition marked Valderrama’s first time to receive a Gold award.
“This is our first time to achieve gold. It is overwhelming—mixed emotions and pressure—because in the coming years we should not go back to silver. We must maintain it,” said Mae Christine M. Bingco, officer-in-charge of the Valderrama Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO).
Bingco attributed the achievement to the municipality’s strong implementation of its local DRRM programs and pre-emptive evacuation plan, including an ordinance institutionalizing pre-emptive evacuation in high-risk areas. She added that Valderrama plans to expand volunteerism programs to further strengthen disaster response, citing the strong support of Mayor Jocelyn Posadas and the community.
Several municipalities also received the Gawad Kalasag Silver Regional Award in recognition of their effective DRRM systems and practices. These include Barbaza, Culasi, Hamtic, Pandan, Patnongon, Libertad, San Remigio, Anini-y, Tibiao, Sebaste, Sibalom, Belison, and Tobias Fornier.
The Municipality of Anini-y was likewise awarded a Certificate of Commendation for serving as the regional ceremonial site of the 4th Simultaneous Earthquake Drill, while the University of Antique–Sibalom Campus received a Plaque of Recognition as a higher education institution for its contributions to disaster preparedness initiatives.
Governor Javier reiterated the need to further strengthen disaster readiness across the province, particularly during the typhoon season, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and pre-emptive measures, especially in flood-prone barangays.
Fernandez explained that the annual Gawad Kalasag Awards were temporarily suspended in 2025 to allow for a more comprehensive evaluation through the Regional DRRM Assessment Recognition. He said the assessment focused on how local government units support and operationalize School- and Community-Based National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) units.
“This assessment allows us to look not just at policies on paper, but at actual implementation. LGUs are the first to respond and the last to leave. Leadership turns preparedness into a lived reality,” Fernandez said, assuring LGUs of the OCD’s continued partnership./PN
