ILOILO City – With Panay Island sitting on one of the country’s most earthquake-prone zones, the Iloilo City Government led a large-scale simulation of disaster response on Thursday as part of a region-wide earthquake and tsunami drill — testing the city’s preparedness against potential high-magnitude tremors.
At exactly 3 p.m., sirens blared across government offices, private establishments, schools, and barangays as thousands of Ilonggos simultaneously performed the “duck, cover, and hold” maneuver before evacuating to designated safe zones.
The coordinated activity marked one of the biggest emergency exercises in the city’s disaster preparedness calendar this year.
Mayor Raisa Treñas, chairperson of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), said the drill was a proactive step to strengthen readiness in a region constantly reminded of its seismic risks.
“Our participation in this region-wide exercise reflects a commitment to safeguarding our communities and reinforcing the capabilities of all sectors to act swiftly and safely in the face of a major seismic event,” Treñas said.
Data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) show that around 530 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater were recorded within 300 kilometers of Iloilo over the past decade — roughly one every week.
Experts often cite the 1948 “Lady Caycay” earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.8, as a reminder of the island’s vulnerability. The quake leveled homes and toppled centuries-old churches in Panay, including the belfry of the Jaro Cathedral.
The city’s drill involved collaboration among the CDRRMC, barangay disaster teams, civil society groups, universities, and private companies, all simulating evacuation, communication, and emergency response procedures.
Officials said such exercises aim not only to refine response coordination but also to ingrain a culture of preparedness among residents.
The activity forms part of the city’s broader campaign to ensure that when the next “big one” strikes, Iloilo is not caught off guard but ready to respond./PN
