The City Government of Iloilo and volunteer groups have intensified preparations for possible major earthquakes, mobilizing teams and equipment to respond swiftly to worst-case scenarios such as collapsed buildings and trapped individuals.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO)––Disaster Response Division head Darwin Papa said on Tuesday, October 14, that the city continues to enhance its response capacity to handle potential large-scale disasters.
He emphasized that while the city hopes to avoid such incidents, its teams, equipment, and systems are ready to operate when needed.
Papa added that they deployed three medium-rescue trucks capable of penetrating concrete structures and medium-rise buildings. These units can also lift collapsed debris during rescue operations.
The CDRRMO–Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team now fields 10 technical rescuers trained in collapsed-structure response, hazardous materials handling, and confined-space operations. The team conducts cross-training with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Red Cross, and volunteer groups such as the Federation Fire and Iloilo Citizens Action Group Volunteer Fire Brigade to ensure coordination and interoperability, he said.
Equipped
Papa said government responders and volunteer groups share the same training standards, enabling both to operate the city’s rescue equipment effectively.
The City Engineer’s Office also partnered with major construction firms to secure heavy machinery such as cranes and backhoes for emergency use, he said.
The officer disclosed that high-rise buildings across Iloilo City conduct quarterly earthquake drills as part of their compliance and preparedness measures.
The city government will hold a series of earthquake drills from Wednesday to Friday. The first day will cover the first to fourth floors of the city hall at 9:30 am and 2:30 pm, followed by drills for the fifth to eighth floors on Thursday. The final day will include both city employees and the transacting public, Papa said.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.