Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas wants the metropolis to establish a state-of-the-art command center that could become one of the best in the Visayas region.
“I assure support not only for funds but also manpower. Our job is to make residents safe. We want to have the best Command Center in Visayas,” Treñas stressed during the 21st Gawad Kalasag National Validation at City Hall July 2.
Treñas noted they are now finalizing the usufruct agreement with business giant Gaisano for the 375 square meter lot at Iloilo City Center along Diversion Road in Mandurriao district for the proposed Command Center.
The four-storey project dubbed Iloilo City Action Response and Emergency (I-CARE) Complex will be home to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), and Police, and Fire stations.
An ambulance, police patrol and fire truck will be on standby at the facility.
The mayor said he will replicate the same at Brgy. Sambag for Jaro, and other districts would follow suit.
Iloilo City is one of three finalists in the Gawad Kalasag National Search for the Highly Urbanized City – City Category of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council thru the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
A field validation is being conducted here by the National Selection Committee (NSC) until July 4. The NSC is composed of representatives from National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and OCD.
Kalasag, an acronym for KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan, is a Filipino term for shield which means protection from attacks.
The award recognizes stakeholders that design and implement Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) projects which protect high risk communities against hazards and help them address their vulnerabilities and coping mechanisms from disasters. (Iloilo City PIO)
