Thirteen Bukidnon municipalities earn disaster resilience recognition

Thirteen municipalities across Bukidnon province have earned gold recognition for their disaster resilience efforts, the Office of the Civil Defense Region 10 announced this week. The Gawad Kalasag 2026 awards were presented to acknowledge the local government units' exemplary programs in disaster preparedness and response management.

The honored municipalities are Cabanglasan, Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Impasug-ong, Kadingilan, Kalilangan, Lantapan, Libona, Malitbog, Maramag, and San Fernando, among others. The recognition reflects the commitment of these local government units to strengthen their communities' capacity to withstand and respond to natural disasters and other calamities.

The Gawad Kalasag awards program aims to recognize local government units that have demonstrated excellence in disaster risk reduction and management. The recognition underscores the importance of proactive disaster preparedness initiatives at the municipal level, particularly in regions vulnerable to typhoons, flooding, and other climate-related hazards.

Bukidnon, located in the northern part of Mindanao, faces regular exposure to tropical weather systems and geological hazards. The provincial government has been working with municipal authorities to enhance early warning systems, evacuation procedures, and community preparedness programs.