Antique, through its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), received its 4th Gawad Kalasag Award for having a zero-casualty despite several major calamities that struck the province this year.

PDRRMO chief Broderick Train, in an interview Thursday, cited the strong collaboration of the PDRRM council members and the public behind the zero-casualty feat even if the province experienced unfavorable weather conditions and typhoons, particularly the Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in October.

“The people, because of their heightened awareness, usually voluntarily comply whenever they are being informed to do pre-emptive evacuation because of the imminent danger,” Train said.

Train received the Gawad Kalasag Seal during an awarding ceremony in Iloilo City on Wednesday.

He said the province was rated Beyond Compliant for meeting the parameters of the award, including the proper utilization of its DRRM fund amounting to PHP166 million.

The municipality of San Jose de Buenavista also received the Gawad Kalasag Award Beyond Compliant Seal with 10 other local government units (LGUs), namely Barbaza, Valderrama, Libertad, Patnongon, San Remigio, Sibalom, Tobias Fornier, Pandan, Hamtic and Culasi.

“There are now more LGUs that have received the award than in the previous years. That is reflective of their giving priority already to disaster preparedness,” Train said.

He said LGUs are already institutionalizing disaster preparedness programs, including creating positions for municipal DRRMOs and their staff.

Aside from LGUs, the University of Antique in Sibalom also received a special award as Best Higher Education Institution in Western Visayas (Region 6) because of its program and partnership with the PDRRMO and the LGUs on disaster response.

The university campus in Sibalom, in times of calamity, serves as an evacuation center. (PNA)