ILOILO City — Four buildings reported minor structural damage while 36 schools suspended face-to-face classes after a magnitude 4.8 earthquake jolted this city Monday evening, March 2, triggering rapid inspections of critical infrastructure and mobilization of emergency teams across barangays.
In Situational Report No. 2 released March 3, the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) confirmed that the tremor struck at 6:13 p.m., prompting immediate structural assessments by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and other response clusters.
Initial assessments showed minor to moderate structural damage in the following:
* Quintin Salas Day Care Center (minor cracks and fine lines on walls);
* TIIC Molo (Old Building) (minor cracks and fine lines on walls);
* Tanza Baybay Barangay Hall (minor cracks and fine lines on walls); and
* Ingore Elementary School, which sustained structural damage on a bench wall near the exit gate of its covered gym, including multiple cracks on walls, beams and ceilings.
Authorities stressed that all reported damages remain subject to validation by the OBO, the City Engineer’s Office and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Despite visible cracks in some facilities, the EOC reported no major structural damage in public markets, condominiums and business process outsourcing (BPO) facilities following rapid post-earthquake inspections.
No major injuries linked to the earthquake were reported as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the EOC.
Hospital administrations conducted precautionary inspections to ensure structural integrity, but all hospitals remained fully operational with no disruption in medical services. Power distributor MORE Power likewise reported no power interruptions after conducting inspections and system monitoring.
As a precaution, 36 of the city’s 65 schools, including two extension campuses, suspended in-person classes Tuesday. Iloilo City Community College shifted to online learning after an on-site inspection and will request a thorough re-inspection from the OBO to further assess its buildings’ structural integrity. The Schools Division Office of Iloilo City continues to monitor suspension updates from other schools.
Residents, particularly those in mid- and high-rise buildings, reported strong ground shaking, with hanging objects swaying and occupants evacuating homes and workplaces as a safety measure.
The quake had a depth of 11 kilometers and was located about five kilometers south 72 degrees west of Guimbal, Iloilo. Iloilo City experienced Intensity IV on the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology Earthquake Intensity Scale.
Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) readings ranged from 29 to 70 gal. The SM City seismic monitor recorded 41.5 gal, while NCDR P-Alert sensors registered up to 61.1 gal — levels roughly corresponding to Intensity IV under the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
A total of 39 personnel from various offices were deployed for monitoring and assessment operations, including teams from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Emergency Medical Services, Urban Search and Rescue, the Iloilo Citizens Action Group, and the Office of the Building Official.
Response clusters conducted roving inspections, structural assessments and information dissemination in affected barangays.
Mayor Raisa Treñas, chairperson of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, directed response clusters to prioritize monitoring of critical infrastructure, particularly school buildings./PN
