CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Central Luzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has announced the winners of the 2025 Regional Gawad Kalasag Special Awards for their outstanding contributions in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) across the region.
RDRRMC Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Amador Corpus emphasized that the program goes beyond conferring awards, as it is fundamentally about assessing the overall resilience of communities and institutions.
“The focus lies in evaluating and strengthening efforts across the pillars of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management with the ultimate goal of recognizing initiatives that build safer, more resilient, and empowered communities,” he noted.
In the Best Government Emergency Management and Response Team – Advanced category, Palayan City Rescue of Nueva Ecija was declared regional winner, followed by the San Fernando Rescue Unit of Pampanga in second place, and the Bulacan Provincial DRRM Office in third place.
For the Basic category, the Gabaldon Municipal DRRM Office of Nueva Ecija was named the regional winner.
In the Best Public Elementary School category, Norzagaray Elementary School in Bulacan emerged as the regional winner, while Banga Elementary School and Don Nemencio Clemena Memorial School, also in Bulacan, placed second and third, respectively.
For the Best Public High School category, Camp Tinio National High School in Nueva Ecija was declared regional winner. Carlos F. Gonzales High School in Bulacan took second place, while Muñoz National High School – Annex in Nueva Ecija came in third.
In the Best Higher Educational Institution category, Pampanga State University was declared the regional winner, while Tarlac Agricultural University landed on the second spot.
Meanwhile, the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City was named Best Local Government Unit Hospital, and the Tarlac Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade received the award for Best Volunteer Organization.
The winners will represent Central Luzon in the national Gawad Kalasag Awards.
Corpus also commended both the awardees and the Regional Selection Committee (RSC) for their commitment to strengthening DRRM practices across the region.
This year’s RSC includes representatives from the OCD, Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Health – Central Luzon Center for Health Development, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Information Agency, Police Regional Office 3, and Philippine Red Cross – Pampanga Angeles Chapter.
Beyond being a platform for recognition, the Gawad Kalasag Awards also functions as a technical evaluation tool that helps local governments and institutions assess their disaster preparedness and align with national DRRM standards and frameworks, particularly those outlined in Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. (MJSC/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
