LEGAZPI CITY: Albay province has formally been installed in the Hall of Fame of the Gawad Kalasag Awards —the first province in the country to get the honor. Albay was adjudged as having the Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) nationwide for the past three years.

Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay received the award recently from Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, in rites at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Gawad Kalasag is the country’s premier annual awards for local government units (LGUs).

Salceda said that Albay’s achievements resulted from the concerted efforts of all government and non-government agencies, participating communities and other stakeholders in the province. He was joined in the awards rites by Albay local officials, among them Vice Gov. Harold Ong Imperial and members of the Albay Provincial Board.

“We wish to share this award with everybody who have contributed their best to effectively implement schemes and techniques in addressing and managing anticipated and actual disasters,” Salceda said.

Albay was adjudged as one with the Best PDRRMC from 2009 to 2011 for its effective disaster management initiatives geared towards achieving its zero casualty goal. The United Nations has declared the province as its Global Model and Salceda as its Senior Champion and spokesman for DRR and Climate change adaptation.

“Our province wants to share our best practices as PDRRMC in as much as we also want to replicate in Albay the best practices of other local government units in the country,” Salceda said.

Salceda pioneered pre-emptive evacuation in confronting disasters in his province. It strategy has been adapted by the national government and other LGUs in the country as an effective standard operating procedure which was also found cost efficient.

Gawad Kalasag is given yearly for outstanding contributions in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian action aimed at advancing public awareness of the best practices by different concerned agencies.