Jaro gets new ICARE hub for faster response

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City government has inaugurated its ninth Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICARE) Center in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro District, expanding emergency response coverage and strengthening disaster preparedness at the community level.

The newly opened facility on Wednesday, April 1, sits on a 3,200-square-meter lot donated by the Bankers Village Homeowners Association.

The structure will be staffed by personnel from the Iloilo City Police Office Station 3, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Traffic and Transportation Management Office.

City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the center is designed to bring police visibility and emergency services closer to residents, enabling faster and more coordinated responses during emergencies and disasters.

She added that the city is not only expanding the number of ICARE centers but also ensuring their efficiency and operational readiness.

“We want to have modern equipment, well-trained responders, and centers that are strategically located in each of our districts,” she said.

She said the city aims to reduce response gaps by targeting ICARE center coverage within three to four kilometers, particularly in densely populated and coastal areas.

The ICARE system, which evolved from simple response units into full-fledged action and resilience centers, integrates services from the police, fire department, disaster office, and traffic management, allowing quicker decision-making and coordinated action during incidents.

Treñas-Chu said the centers have contributed to faster response times and, in some cases, minimal or zero casualties during past disasters, including typhoons.

“Over the years, our ICARE centers have become a model for other local government units and national government agencies that also want to improve their disaster and emergency preparedness,” she said.

The new Jaro facility adds to existing ICARE centers in So-oc, Ungka, Calumpang, Balantang, Tanza-Esperanza, Nabitasan, Iloilo City Center Gaisano, and Megaworld.

Treñas-Chu also announced that a new police substation will be established near Jaro Plaza to maintain accessibility for residents in the district.

“Our police stations need to be accessible, so our Uswag building in Jaro, we will make it a substation so it will be within reach of our residents, considering that the Jaro district is large,” she said.

Following the inauguration of the new ICARE center, the city government also opened the new Taal Police Station in Barangay Taal, Molo, on the same day.

“This forms part of our continuing commitment to strengthen peace and order, improve emergency response time, and enhance police visibility in every barangay, with full support from the city government through upgraded resources and additional motorcycles to enable our police to serve the public more efficiently and effectively,” Treñas-Chu said.

Iloilo City Police Office chief Col. Wilbert Parilla said the opening of the new facilities comes at an opportune time as the city continues to experience rapid economic growth.

Parilla admitted that some police offices and facilities had been “dilapidated” and below standard, putting them at a disadvantage, particularly when receiving visitors from the private and business sectors.

“Now we have an air-conditioned room. Our police can simply focus on doing their job,” he added.