ILOILO – The province of Iloilo and 31 of its local government units (LGUs) have been recognized by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) for outstanding disaster resilience initiatives, highlighting a province-wide push that has built safer and more disaster-ready communities for Ilonggos.
The recognition, conferred during the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Assessment Recognition Ceremony on April 28 in Iloilo City, saw Iloilo Province clinch the Gold Award with a rating of 2.73, classified as “beyond compliant” for its DRRM programs.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. received the award from OCD administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros and OCD Region 6 director Raul Fernandez, joined by Provincial Board member Rolando Distura and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Colonel Cornelio Salinas (Ret.).
Seven LGUs — Anilao, Carles, Leganes, Maasin, Mina, Passi City, and Pavia — also secured Gold Awards, while 24 municipalities earned Silver recognition, including Alimodian, Badiangan, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Guimbal, Igbaras, Lambunao, Leon, Miag-ao, New Lucena, Oton, Pototan, San Dionisio, San Enrique, Santa Barbara, Sara, Tigbauan, Tubungan, and Zarraga.
Two Iloilo LGUs were likewise honored with special awards for Best Government Emergency Management and Response Teams (GEMS): Passi City Responders in Disasters and Emergencies (PRiDE) and Calinog Search and Rescue (CSAR).
In his address, Defensor underscored Executive Order 111, which institutionalizes a comprehensive system for peace, order, and resilience across the province under the “4K for MoRProGRes” program.
“The 4k for MoRProGRes is how we do things here in Iloilo. We are all facing internal and external threats – we have typhoons, pandemics, earthquakes, and other lingering situations. Peace, order, and resilience are prerequisites for national development. That is why we have to shape up and we adopt the urgent development approach in addressing them,” Defensor said.
Salinas credited the recognition to the collective effort of DRRM personnel and stakeholders across the province.
“In unity there is strength. We are looking forward to sustaining this award next year,” Salinas said.
Cabreros, for his part, commended LGUs and disaster frontliners for their proactive approach, particularly citing life-saving pre-emptive evacuations during Tropical Cyclone Uwan — an effort that gained national recognition.
He emphasized that while achievements must be celebrated, continuous improvement remains essential, especially in learning from past gaps.
Cabreros also highlighted key legislative measures strengthening disaster preparedness, including the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act (Republic Act 12076), mandating resilient evacuation centers, and the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act (Republic Act 12287), which allows anticipatory action based on scientific forecasts.
He further introduced the OCD’s seven-point resilience agenda, PREPARE, which focuses on professionalizing the DRRM sector, revitalizing civil defense readiness, empowering local communities, promoting DRRM awareness, advancing interagency leadership, refining disaster operations, and enhancing planning and governance systems./PN
