ILOILO – Operations at Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo will be suspended for three and a half hours this Wednesday, October 28, to make way for a full-scale emergency drill simulating an aircraft crash that will test the readiness of airport authorities, rescue teams and local government units (LGUs) to respond to a major aviation disaster.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) – Area Center VI announced that airport operations would be temporarily halted from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to ensure the safe conduct of the exercise, which will involve emergency responders from at least 13 neighboring LGUs.
The simulation will recreate an aircraft crash in which the plane’s tail section lands in Barangay Consolacion, San Miguel, Iloilo, while the main body of the aircraft crashes within the airport premises.
Information obtained by Panay News from the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), one of the exercise’s major partners, indicated that the scenario would require a coordinated, large-scale rescue and medical response.
The 13 participating LGUs are expected to deploy ambulances to transport simulated injured passengers to tertiary hospitals in Iloilo City, testing the ability of local emergency services to respond swiftly to a mass-casualty aviation incident.
In a statement issued Monday, October 26, CAAP-Area Center VI said the exercise forms part of its continuing efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capabilities at the international airport.
The agency emphasized that the drill is being conducted in compliance with regulatory standards governing international airports.
It aims to evaluate the operational readiness of airport personnel, emergency response teams and partner agencies in managing aviation emergencies, particularly incidents requiring coordinated rescue, evacuation and medical assistance.
The exercise will also assess communication systems, interagency coordination and the effectiveness of established emergency response procedures.
Members of the public may observe an increased presence and movement of ambulances, fire trucks, emergency vehicles and rescue personnel traveling to and from the airport during the scheduled exercise.
CAAP clarified that these activities will form part of the simulated emergency response and should not be mistaken for an actual aviation disaster.
Officials from the CAAP Central Office have also been invited to monitor the exercise and assess the performance of participating emergency response units.
Meanwhile, CAAP-Area Center VI said it had coordinated with airlines operating at Iloilo International Airport and provided advance notice of the temporary suspension to allow them to make the necessary operational adjustments and passenger arrangements.
Passengers with flights scheduled during the affected period are advised to coordinate with their respective airlines regarding possible changes to their travel schedules.
The agency appealed for the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airport stakeholders and the general public, emphasizing that the temporary disruption is necessary to strengthen the airport’s ability to protect lives during actual emergencies./PN
