ILOILO City – Emergency response services are now within quicker reach for thousands of residents in Jaro district.
The city government accelerates its push to decentralize disaster and rescue operations with the opening of its ninth Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICARE) Center at residential subdivision Bankers Village IV.
Designed to cut response time and bring front-line services directly into communities, the newly opened facility houses personnel from the Iloilo City Police Station 3 (Jaro Police Station), Bureau of Fire Protection, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) — forming a unified, rapid-response hub in one of the city’s busiest districts.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the expansion marks a strategic shift toward placing emergency services where they are most needed, ensuring faster intervention during crises.
“Indi lang ini basta government facility. Isa ini ka promisa sa tagsa ka Ilonggo nga ang bulig mapalapit sa ila,” Treñas said.
She added that the city is also planning to establish a substation near Jaro Plaza to further improve accessibility for residents in the district.
Treñas stressed that the ICARE Centers have evolved beyond mere response hubs, becoming “Action and Resilience Centers” that focus on preparedness, mitigation, and strengthening community resilience.
“Our goal is not only to respond to emergencies but to ensure that communities are prepared and protected even before disasters strike,” she added.
The Jaro facility, built on a 3,200-square-meter lot with a 600-square-meter structure, joins a growing network of ICARE Centers in So-oc, Ungka, Calumpang, Balantang, Tanza-Esperanza, Nabitasan, ICC Gaisano, and Megaworld.
According to Treñas, the continued rollout of ICARE Centers underscores strengthened collaboration among local government, national agencies, and private sector partners in building a safer city./PN