Mayor says barangay readiness crucial to disaster response

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

In the wake of widespread flooding and damage from heavy rains and successive tropical storms, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu emphasized the need to improve disaster response and communication systems at the barangay level.

“We need more training at the barangay level,” she said.

“We have 180 barangays and that is something we are challenged to control. We also need to improve our communication—how we can reach the barangay level.”

On Monday, July 28, Treñas described the combined impact of the southwest monsoon and successive tropical storms as “one of the fastest and one of the biggest disaster responses” the city government has faced in recent years.

Torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon and Tropical Storms Crising, Dante, and Emong affected 14,910 families, or 54,906 individuals, across Iloilo City.

Nearly 100 barangays were flooded, and 74 houses were reported damaged.

Treñas noted that while barangay officials were not lacking in effort, they struggled to document residents affected by the prolonged weather disturbance.

“I think we are overwhelmed,” she said.

She explained that the weeklong flooding in several areas made it difficult for barangay captains to monitor affected individuals, manage evacuations, and perform other essential tasks.

To strengthen disaster preparedness, Treñas said the city will roll out training programs for barangay officials focused on emergency response and contingency planning.

“There should be a Plan A and a Plan B,” she said.

“Not everything should fall on the barangay captain, and we saw it during Tropical Storm Crising and the succeeding storms.”

On infrastructure, Treñas said the city government is reviewing areas with persistent and newly reported flooding.

She underscored the need for stronger coordination between the Department of Public Works and Highways and the city to align national and local flood mitigation projects.

“The DPWH is working on the national roads and drainage,” she said.

“Our city is working on local drainage. The more we communicate, the more we coordinate, the more we can solve the problem.”

The city government is currently assessing whether Iloilo City qualifies for a state of calamity declaration.