Iloilo defense drills test crisis response

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Hundreds of participants gathered as Iloilo province hosted a two-day Interagency Territorial Defense Operations Exercise in the municipalities of Miagao and San Joaquin.

Dubbed “Pag-ugyon 2026,” the event began with an opening program on June 16 in Miagao.

The exercise drew participants from local government units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Office of Civil Defense, the Iloilo provincial government, and other partner agencies and stakeholders.

Brig. Gen. Nhel Richard Patricio, commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, said the event was the product of several months of preparation initiated by different government agencies.

The exercise is a collaborative initiative designed to enhance and test the interoperability and preparedness of civilian and military agencies in responding to calamities.

Patricio said the exercise does not focus only on human-induced calamities such as war.

He said it also allows participants to apply interagency coordination during natural disasters.

Pag-ugyon 2026 covered two primary activities: a tabletop exercise and field training exercises.

The first phase, the tabletop exercise, was held June 8, 2026, at the Heroes Hall of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office headquarters in Santa Barbara town.

It enabled participants to walk through possible scenarios, discuss strategies, and identify coordination gaps in preparation for the actual Interagency Territorial Defense Operations Exercise.

The second phase, the field training exercises, took place in Miagao and San Joaquin.

This stage involved the practical execution of protocols and standard operating procedures based on three major scenarios: civilian spillover, missile attack, and coastal defense.

Provincial officials earlier said the June 16–17 drills would include a civilian spillover management scenario in barangays Sapa and Kirayan Norte in Miagao, a missile attack response simulation in Barangay Igtuba in Miagao, and simulated coastal defense and anti-infiltration operations in barangays Igcondao and Cata-an in San Joaquin.

The exercises aimed to ensure that government agencies can respond swiftly, effectively, and in a coordinated manner when emergencies arise.

Maj. Gen. Michael Samson, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said Pag-ugyon 2026 marked another significant step in strengthening collective preparedness and enhancing the capability to respond to evolving security challenges.

“While territorial defense is often associated with military operations, we recognize that safeguarding our nation is not the responsibility of the Armed Forces alone. National security requires a whole-of-government approach — one that harnesses the strengths, resources, and expertise of every government instrumentality. It demands unity of effort and shared responsibility among all stakeholders,” he said.

Samson also acknowledged the support of the Iloilo provincial government under Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the local government units of Iloilo’s 1st District, and other national government agencies.

“Their partnership demonstrates the vital role of local governments in building resilient communities and ensuring readiness in times of crisis,” he said.

Samson stressed that the exercise is not solely about preparing for war.

Rather, he said, it is about preparing for all forms of threats and adversities that may affect communities, whether they arise from external aggression, disasters, emergencies, cyberthreats, or other complex challenges.

“The security environment continues to evolve, and our preparedness must evolve with it,” he said.

Patricio said no single agency can address every challenge alone in today’s security environment.

“Whether faced with territorial defense concerns, humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters, or threats to public safety, success depends on our ability to work together, coordinate effectively, and respond as one,” he said.

Defensor said he pushed for the conduct of the exercise, citing the importance of peace and order and resilience in nation-building and development.

He also cited the need to intensify the frontline defense of communities.

The Iloilo provincial government earlier said Pag-ugyon 2026 complements Defensor’s Executive Order No. 111, series of 2025, which implements the province’s flagship program on peace, order, and resilience for national development.