ILOILO – To ensure faster relief delivery during calamities, the Iloilo Provincial Government is rolling out a strategic warehousing network across the province in partnership with local government units (LGUs).
The initiative, spearheaded by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), aims to decentralize the storage of relief goods — shifting from a single warehouse in Mina to multiple facilities strategically located in various municipalities.
“We have our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), bag-o lang gid siya nga naton nga ginpasaka sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan… actually for this week, that’s already for signing between the LGU of Mina and Iloilo Provincial Government,” said Don F. Sasu, Project Development Officer IV of the PSWDO. “So there is a municipal evacuation center in Mina, which was given also by the provincial government to the LGU of Mina, and so far the province of Iloilo, dira kami gabutang or stock sang amon goods.”
From Single Hub to Provincial Network
Mina’s warehouse, the first of its kind under this strategy, has already served as a logistics hub for relief operations in the municipalities of San Dionisio and Banate during recent calamities.
“We chose Mina, kay ang Mina may ara nga facility nga nakasulod sa standard nga ginapangayo naton for a warehouse. Actually indi lang sa probinsiya no, even the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) also have prepositioned goods didto sa Mina,” Sasu explained.
Encouraged by its success, the province plans to replicate the model by partnering with more LGUs to establish additional warehouses that will serve as satellite stockpiles.
“We are identifying municipalities that can accommodate additional warehouses. The goal is for these facilities to be stocked not only for their own communities but also to assist nearby LGUs during emergencies,” Sasu said.
Improved Efficiency and Reduced Costs
Sasu noted that before Mina’s warehouse was built, all relief goods were stored at the Capitol — a setup that caused delays and space constraints.
“In the past, the absence of dedicated storage facilities made it difficult to respond quickly and effectively. Now, with a separate warehouse in place, we can streamline our operations, ensuring that we can distribute supplies during critical times without delay,” he said.
He added that decentralizing stockpiles will also reduce logistics expenses. “
Actually subong pa lang nga year ang warehouse sa Mina… isa na ka-strategy nga nakita naton, which is very workable and mas mahapos man for the LGU nga kon sa nearby municipalities na lang, cheaper ang ila expenses,” Sasu emphasized.
Regional Push for Preparedness
The initiative is aligned with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) call for LGUs in Western Visayas to set up warehouses as part of their disaster preparedness programs.
“We are encouraging LGUs to establish their own warehouse, for us to deliver our prepositioned goods as part of our preparations,” said Erlyn Garcia, chief of DSWD Region 6’s Disaster Response Management Division.
Currently, 83 LGUs in the region have established warehouses for emergency goods, but Iloilo Province seeks to go further by ensuring every district has at least one functional facility that can support others during crises.
Shared Responsibility and Community Resilience
The Iloilo Provincial Government’s warehousing strategy also promotes shared responsibility among LGUs. “Our approach involves creating an understanding that the supplies stored in these warehouses are not exclusively for one municipality but are intended for a wider area, particularly adjacent communities that might also be impacted in times of crisis,” Sasu said.
As climate threats intensify and the rainy season nears, Iloilo’s proactive plan to expand its relief storage network signals a stronger, more coordinated response system—anchored on preparedness, efficiency, and cooperation among LGUs./PN
