TACLOBAN CITY — In a sweeping recognition of disaster resilience efforts across Eastern Visayas, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council VIII (RDRRMC VIII) and the Office of Civil Defense Region VIII (OCD VIII) honored 106 local disaster risk reduction and management councils and offices (LDRRMCOs), along with four institutions, for their exemplary performance in disaster preparedness, response, and community resilience.
The annual commendation underscores the region’s ongoing push to elevate local disaster readiness—critical in an area frequently struck by typhoons, floods, landslides, and other natural hazards. Officials said the awards reflect years of sustained work by local DRRM teams, frontliners, and community partners.
“Your hard work, commitment, and dedication have paid off,” the council said, recognizing the collective efforts that continue to strengthen Eastern Visayas’ resilience.
As part of the 2025 DRRM Champions Awards, Southern Leyte emerged as the top provincial awardee, followed by Samar in second place. Ormoc City earned recognition as the lone awardee for the independent component city category.
In the component city category, Borongan City topped the list, followed by Maasin City and Catbalogan City.
For the 1st–3rd class municipalities, Catarman, Northern Samar led the awardees, with Sogod, Southern Leyte in second place and Laoang, Northern Samar in third. In the 4th–5th class municipalities, Silago, Southern Leyte topped the list, followed by Catarman, and San Roque, both in Northern Samar.
Gold Awards were given to LDRRM councils and offices exhibiting exceptional performance. Among them were those from Naval (Biliran); the Leyte towns of Alangalang, Dulag, San Miguel, Sta. Fe, Tabango, and Ormoc City; Northern Samar’s municipalities of Catarman, Gamay, Laoang, Lope de Vega, Palapag, San Antonio, and San Roque; the provincial government of Samar, and the municipalities of Marabut, Motiong, Tarangnan, Paranas, and the City of Catbalogan.
Gold awardees from Eastern Samar include Arteche, Balangiga, Borongan City, Can-avid, General MacArthur, and Salcedo. Southern Leyte’s provincial government and the municipalities of Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Liloan, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Juan, Silago, Sogod, Tomas Oppus, and Maasin City also earned Gold status.
Silver Awardees included the provincial governments of Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, as well as numerous municipalities such as Almeria, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, Maripipi, Babatngon, Barugo, Carigara, Hilongos, Jaro, Javier, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palo, Palompon, Tunga, Biri, Bobon, Catubig, Lapinig, Guiuan, Lawaan, Llorente, Maydolong, Basey, and many others across the region, including Calbayog City and Baybay City.
Special citations were also awarded, including Biliran Provincial Hospital – local government hospital top awardee; Philippine National Police Eastern Visayas – Special Recognition (organization); Southern Leyte State University – higher education institution award; and Catarman Emergency Response Unit Advanced Local Government Emergency Response Team – Special DRRM Award.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
