QUAKE-READY: Iloilo City fortifies earthquake response with trained rescue teams

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City is prepared to respond to a potentially devastating earthquake, with trained personnel, rescue equipment, and interagency coordination already in place, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Darwin Joemil Papa, head of the Quick Response Division of the CDRRMO, said their disaster response training is anchored on worst-case scenarios involving collapsed structures and trapped individuals.

“Our preparation is in the worst-case scenario; there is a possibility of a collapse of the structure or of individuals being trapped,” he said on Tuesday, October 14.

“Although we don’t want it to happen, worst comes to worst, we have the capability, we have the equipment, we have the personnel, and we have the teams that can handle it,” he added.

Papa said the city is equipped with three rescue trucks capable of medium-level urban search-and-rescue operations.

These vehicles can penetrate collapsed concrete structures and mid-rise buildings and are designed to lift heavy debris.

The city also has its own 10-member Urban Search and Rescue team trained in technical rescue operations, including collapsed structures, hazardous materials, and confined space extraction.

To strengthen interoperability during emergencies, Papa said rescuers undergo cross-training with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Red Cross, Federation Iloilo Fire Brigade Inc., and the Iloilo City Action Group.

“[This is to] ensure that the personnel and volunteer organizations have the same knowledge, have the same capability to utilize the available equipment in the city,” Papa said.

The CDRRMO has further coordinated with private construction firms for possible access to heavy machinery such as cranes and backhoes during retrieval operations.

However, Papa clarified that heavy equipment will not be used in the initial hours of a rescue operation to avoid endangering survivors.

“During the first few hours, even the first few days of the operation, heavy equipment is not allowed as it could cause further damage to the area if there are more survivors, especially during the vibration brought by the equipment,” he explained.

“Within 72 hours, what we are using is more or less portable tools and cutters, hydraulic cutters, and we are not using heavy equipment,” he added.

He added that Iloilo City has designated open spaces near high-rise buildings that can serve as temporary evacuation sites during an earthquake, an advantage not available in some urban areas in Luzon.

As part of preparedness measures, Papa said all high-rise buildings in the city are required to hold regular emergency drills, such as every quarter or every three months.