THE Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-Central Luzon is now accepting entries for the 21st Gawad Kalasag, the coveted awards in the field of disaster response.

RDRRMC-Central Luzon chairperson Malou Salazar said the annual search aims to recognize the outstanding performances of local disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) councils and committees, institutions, organizations, and individuals who have shown acts of heroism before, during, or after a disaster or emergency.

“We will also recognize those who continue to render exemplary contributions in promoting and implementing significant and gender sensitive DRRM and climate change adaptation programs and innovations that build community resilience in the long term,” he added.

There are a total of 21 major categories this year namely best provincial DRRM council, best city DRRM council-highly urbanized, best city DRRM council-component/independent chartered component, best municipal DRRM council-first to third class, best municipal DRRM council-fourth to sixth class, best barangay DRRM committee-urban, and best barangay DRRM committee-rural.

Also, best civil society organization, best volunteer organization, best people’s organization, best school-public elementary, best school-private elementary, best school-public high school, best school-private high school, best child development center, and best higher educational institution will be recognized.

Other categories include best hospital-national government, best hospital-local government unit, best hospital-government specialty, heroic act-individual, and heroic act-group.

“Winners will automatically represent Central Luzon in the national competition,” Salazar said.

Deadline of submission of entries both in hard and soft copies will be on April 12, 2019. For queries, please contact (045) 455-0033 or email r3.rdrrmc.ocd@gmail.com.