Jaro, Molo get new police stations and ICARE hubs

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Jennifer P. Rendon

Iloilo City inaugurated its ninth Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICARE) Center and two new police stations on Wednesday, April 1, expanding emergency response coverage across Jaro and Molo districts.

The new ICARE Center in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, sits on a 3,200-square-meter lot donated by the Bankers Village Homeowners Association. It serves as a multi-agency facility housing Iloilo City Police Station (ICPS) 3, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. A second inauguration the same morning relocated ICPS 4 to the ICARE Center in Barangay Taal, Molo.

Police Regional Office 6 Director Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan led the inauguration alongside Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu and Iloilo City Police Office Officer-in-Charge Col. Wilbert Parilla.

Treñas-Chu said the centers are designed to bring police visibility and emergency services closer to residents.

“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 keep ICARE coverage within a three-to-four-kilometer radius, particularly in densely populated and coastal areas. The centers integrate services from the police, fire department, disaster office, and traffic management, allowing quicker decisions and coordinated action during incidents.

“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,” Treñas-Chu said.

The system has contributed to faster response times and, in some cases, zero casualties during past typhoons, she added.

The Tabuc Suba facility joins existing ICARE Centers in So-oc, Ungka, Calumpang, Balantang, Tanza-Esperanza, Nabitasan, Iloilo City Center Gaisano, and Megaworld.

Treñas-Chu also announced that the city’s Uswag building near Jaro Plaza will be converted into a police substation.

“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.

She also reaffirmed the city government’s commitment to backing the Philippine National Police with resources, including additional motorcycles for patrol.

“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.

Speaking in Hiligaynon, Treñas-Chu credited the ICARE system for the speed of the city’s disaster response.

“Ang akon nakita, kay pirme ako present kon may disaster ukon calamity, dako gid nga bulig ang aton ICARE Center. Amo na nga diri sa Iloilo City, madasig ang aton response. Mahapos kay isa na lang ka instruction, hulag na dayon tanan,” she said.

Ligan praised the city government and residents for their support of the police, while stressing the importance of sipag — diligence — among personnel.

“Maraming salamat po sa inyong tulong sa inyong mga kapulisan. Sa ating mga kapulisan, gaano man kayo kagaling, kung tamad sa pagtatrabaho ay walang mangyayari—kaya sipagan ninyo. Daig ng masipag ang magaling, at kung magaling ka na at masipag ka pa, mas lalo kayong aangat. Kaya galingan ninyo,” he said.

Parilla acknowledged the support of the mayor and the people of Iloilo City and reaffirmed ICPO’s commitment to maintaining a peaceful, orderly, and secure city. He noted that some police facilities had been in poor condition, putting officers at a disadvantage — particularly when receiving visitors from the business sector.

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