ILOILO CITY — Iloilo City has once again cemented its status as a trailblazer in local governance. The city recently secured its fourth Galing Pook Award for the Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICARE) Centers, a program that fundamentally transforms disaster response and community safety.
A Legacy of Award-Winning Governance
Mayor Raisa S. Treñas personally received the prestigious accolade from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace. This recognition places the city's initiative among the Ten Outstanding Local Governance Programs for 2026. The city also received the first-ever Resilience Award alongside Baguio City.
This victory follows a storied history of public service innovation. Previous wins include the Dinagyang Festival in 2012, the Iloilo-Batiano River Development Project in 2018, and the sustainable urban mobility I-BIKE Program in 2022. Each consecutive honor solidifies the city’s national standing.
Decentralizing Risk Governance
At the heart of the ICARE program is a strategic shift from centralized operations to district-level response hubs. Previously, communities far from the city center endured longer wait times during emergencies, which often compromised safety and rescue operations.
Today, nine ICARE Centers are fully operational across the city, achieving an impressive average response time of four to eight minutes. This rapid mobilization ensures that professional help arrives when every second matters most to affected families and individuals.
The system integrates emergency operations with community-based learning hubs. This proactive approach strengthens coordination among the city's disaster risk reduction office, police, fire bureau, and barangay officials to deliver highly coordinated and efficient assistance during critical situations.
Empowering Communities and Partnerships
Beyond rapid response, the initiative has evolved into a massive platform for capacity
building. The program has successfully trained over 91,000 individuals and mobilized 27 dedicated volunteer groups across the metropolis to ensure grassroots readiness.
Public-private partnerships played a crucial role in this expansion. Six of the operational centers were acquired through property donations from private partners, providing an estimated combined market value of at least P916 million to bolster city infrastructure and emergency services.
These collaborations demonstrate the power of uniting various sectors for a common goal. By securing prime properties for emergency hubs, the city maximizes its resources while actively engaging the private sector in its long-term resilience strategies and urban development plans.
Building a More Resilient City
This robust disaster preparedness framework significantly boosts Iloilo's overall livability and real estate appeal. Investors and homeowners are increasingly drawn to cities that prioritize safety, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development, driving long-term property value appreciation.
Mayor Treñas emphasized that resilience begins in homes and grows within barangays. By fostering shared responsibility among government agencies, private partners, and citizens, the city creates a unified front against natural disasters and climate-related challenges.
As Iloilo City continues to enhance its facilities, equipment, and training, the local government remains steadfast in protecting lives. The award belongs to every Ilonggo who helps build a resilient, sustainable, and forward-looking community that is always prepared for the future.
