History

2003

In 2003, Iloilo City was visited by several typhoons. Hon. Jerry P. Treñas, the city mayor of this time, experienced a lack of both coordination and operational stability when it came to disasters and emergencies in the city. Thus, the Iloilo City Crisis/Disaster Management Office was created on July 25, 2003 to address this gap. The primary operational team, the Iloilo City Emergency Responders (ICER), was also created alongside the said office. Composed of paid and volunteer response personnel, ICER was tasked to provide free services in responding to emergencies within Iloilo City’s area of responsibility.

2010

By 2010, under the new Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the office was renamed the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The office was tasked not only to provide emergency medical services for the city residents but also to perform disaster and emergency preparedness programs for the city. To achieve these tasks, the office created its trained response team to handle various medical and trauma cases such as vehicular accidents, medical transport, special procedure transport, inter-hospital transport, emergency childbirth, cardiac arrest cases, and other special need situations that may require technical rescue and personnel.

Upon its initial creation, it was composed of only six (6) members, namely: Launcelot Abanio (Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation), Eugene Lamasan (Philippine National Red Cross), Philip Balmores (Philippine National Red Cross), Robby Natividad (Philippine National Red Cross), Randy Pleñago (Philippine National Red Cross), Darwin Joemil Papa (Philippine National Red Cross). The six started ICER operations, utilizing basic and improvised rescue and medical equipment. While they lacked proper equipment, they persevered in their operations and pushed the members to seek more knowledge and expertise in specialized response fields to improve their knowledge and confidence in responding to emergencies.

The office back then was faced with the major task of providing emergency medical services to the city with an estimated population of 442,511 and a population density of 5,649 persons/sq. km.

The office formulated operational programs that encompassed the whole city through conducted time studies and incident clustering. Thus, the team was able to create a response plan that limits travel time to a maximum of seven (7) minutes to any area in the city, wherein the response time is measured from the time of acknowledged call by the unit to the time of their arrival on scene depending on the ambulance availability and time of day. Not only are the ambulance units to be stationed in strategic places within the city to comply with the stated response time, but also formulated strategic plans for training the barangay response groups to augment the city resources.

The office has also partnered with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (RDRRMO) to create an early warning system that utilizes flags to be raised during inclement weather for both coastal and inland barangays. However, due to budget constraints since 2003 of the team’s operation, the majority of the plans and programs were not realized, such as the acquisition of high-end rescue, medical equipment, and more suitable ambulance units. The proper utilization of a limited budget and perseverance made the office survive to realize its mission and vision.

2011

In 2011, the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, together with what remains of its pioneers, new members, team leaders, and volunteers have gone the distance, and have proven themselves worthy to be called the chosen few (Darwin Joemil Papa, personal communication, February 17, 2025).

2024

In 2024, the office is now operating its emergency responders in strategically placed ICARE centers in the city, where there are seven (7) operating centers. The emergency responders are well-equipped, and have Urban Search and Rescue unit as an addition to the team since 2022. The office received EOC package from Phil Disaster Resilience Foundation, and have rain gagues, donated by NCDR Taiwan, installed throughout the city (Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 2024). There are operational CCTVs in most of the city and IEC materials promoted through KABALAKA Advocacy. For three consecutive years, the office also earned the distinction “Beyond Compliant” at the Gawad KALASAG Awards for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance (Iloilo City Government, 2024).

Source:

1. Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. (2012, February 12). ICER EMS Responder [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/1GpXyqFuHH/
2. Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. (2012, February 12). ICER Technical Team [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/1F4PNaEpUY/
3. Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. (2012, March 13). Flag Ceremony [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/15vh29eYF3/
4. Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. (2013, June 11). ICER Ambulance [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=668425529840254&set=a.225696406252321
5. Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. (2024, July 9). CDRRMO receives EOC Package It is imperative for a local government unit to establish its emergency operations center (EOC) if [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AWna2fmxo/
6. Iloilo City Government. (2022, September 20). LEVEL UP ILOILO: ICARE MEGAWORLD My vision to create a more resilient metro for the welfare of our residents continues [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B5WUp2XjY/
7. Iloilo City Government. (2024, December 11). ILOILO CITY RECEIVES ANOTHER ‘BEYOND COMPLIANT’ RATING FOR DRRM The Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Office [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15E4kDqXAf/
8. Jerry Treñas. (2025, March 24). ENSURING INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE Our team proudly presented the Family Preparedness Communication Board, which includes vital tips for [Image attached][Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DigG74rzW/