ILOILO City – As concerns grow following the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani in the island of Mindanao yesterday, Iloilo City has placed emergency response teams, rescue assets and specialized equipment on standby, with Mayor Raisa Treñas assuring residents that the metropolis is prepared to respond to a major seismic disaster.
Treñas said the city government has continuously strengthened disaster preparedness measures following a series of earthquakes that affected various parts of the country in recent years.
Among the city’s preparations are regular earthquake drills in schools and private establishments, simulation exercises conducted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and the strategic deployment of emergency response equipment in key areas throughout the city.
The city has also invested in response and rescue equipment housed at the CDRRMO Operations Center and positioned at ICARE centers to allow faster deployment during emergencies.
Treñas said school administrators and principals will undergo refresher orientations on earthquake response protocols to ensure the safety of students and teachers and to prevent panic during emergencies.
“We have learned valuable lessons from previous earthquakes. We want our schools to be fully aware of the protocols so that students and teachers can respond calmly and safely if a strong earthquake occurs,” she said.
The mayor noted that earthquake preparedness remains a priority as the city seeks to minimize casualties and damage should a major seismic event strike Iloilo.
For his part, Darwin Papa, head of the Disaster Response Division of the CDRRMO Operations Center, said the city has both the manpower and equipment needed to respond to a powerful earthquake similar to the magnitude 7.8 tremor in Sarangani.
“We have the manpower, the orientation system, and the command system that can handle operations during a major earthquake,” Papa said.
According to Papa, emergency resources have already been pre-positioned in strategic locations across the city to ensure a swift response in the event of a large-scale disaster.
He explained that the CDRRMO has identified response sectors throughout the city where teams from the Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Red Cross, Iloilo City Action Group, Federation Fire volunteers and other emergency responders can immediately conduct assessment, rescue and recovery operations.
“In the event that buildings collapse because of a strong earthquake, we already have designated teams and assigned sectors. Responders can immediately move in to assess structures, conduct search-and-rescue operations, and assist affected residents,” Papa said.
The city’s rescue capability includes specialized equipment for urban search-and-rescue operations such as concrete and steel cutters, portable chipping hammers, hydraulic lifting equipment for collapsed structures and thermal imaging cameras capable of detecting victims even in zero-visibility conditions.
Papa said these resources will allow rescuers to reach trapped victims more efficiently and safely during post-earthquake operations.
“We have equipment designed specifically for collapsed-structure incidents. These tools are critical in locating and rescuing victims while ensuring the safety of our responders,” he added.
The city government earlier strengthened earthquake response protocols with schools and institutions following a series of tremors experienced in Iloilo and neighboring areas.
Treñas stressed that preparedness remains the best defense against disasters.
“While we cannot prevent earthquakes, we can prepare for them. Through continuous training, drills, and investments in equipment and personnel, we are working to ensure that Iloilo City remains resilient and ready to respond when needed,” she said./PN
