Iloilo City eyes region-wide KABALAKA disaster expo by 2027

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government aims to transform its annual KABALAKA Expo into Western Visayas’ premier disaster preparedness exposition, building on the growing participation of government agencies, emergency responders, academic institutions, and private organizations.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the city plans to expand the expo beyond Iloilo next year after this year’s event drew 26 exhibitors, up from 22 during its inaugural staging in 2025.

“Our partners have already committed to making the expo even better next year by bringing in more exhibitors so we can showcase even more innovations,” she said in an interview on July 17.

“Hopefully, next year it will no longer be just for Iloilo City and the province, but for the whole of Western Visayas. With the support of the Office of Civil Defense, we are confident we can further expand this program,” she added.

On July 15, the city government signed a memorandum of understanding with key private sector and utility partners to institutionalize the annual conduct of the KABALAKA Expo and establish a framework for cooperation among all parties.

Held July 15-17 along Convention Drive at the Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district, KABALAKA Expo 2026 brought together the exhibitors representing government agencies, emergency response units, volunteer groups, academic institutions, civic organizations, and private sector partners to promote disaster preparedness and resilience.

KABALAKA, the Hiligaynon word for “concern,” stands for “Kahublagan sa Barangay para sa Lapnagon nga Kahandaan sa Kalamidad,” the city government’s flagship community-based disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, and volunteerism program.

The expo was first launched in 2025 through a partnership between the Iloilo City government and the Office of Civil Defense to provide residents with life-saving knowledge while showcasing innovations in disaster preparedness.

The regional push comes a month after Treñas-Chu showcased the city’s disaster preparedness gains, including earthquake resilience programs and regular community training, at the 10th World Cities Summit in Singapore in June.

Treñas-Chu attributed the success of this year’s expo to stronger collaboration among stakeholders, describing it as a reflection of the region’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness.