Disaster resilience begins long before emergencies strike. It starts with prepared communities, trained responders, and a culture of readiness.
For years, the Iloilo City Government has steadily strengthened this culture through the KABALAKA (KAhublagan sa BArangay para sa LApnagon nga KAhandaan sa KAlamidad) Program, its flagship disaster risk reduction and management initiative that equips communities with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to emergencies and adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.
During the first year of Mayor Raisa S. Treñas’ administration, the program, which is spearheaded by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), further intensified its disaster preparedness efforts, through the conduct of 349 KABALAKA activities from July 2025 to June 2026. These initiatives trained 40, 600 individuals and reached communities across the city through disaster risk reduction education, drills, and capacity-building activities.
Among the activities conducted were Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) capacity-building sessions, earthquake preparedness programs, Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) meetings, strategic planning workshops, climate forums, scientific conferences, Project TRANSFORM, Mental Health Awareness sessions, HEAT activities, ABTIK trainings, BAE-Rise, and the UnRisk program.
One of KABALAKA’s most significant achievements came in October 2025, when the program recorded its highest level of activity. During the month alone, 37 disaster preparedness activities were conducted, benefiting 11,636 participants, reaching 69 barangays, and implementing 77 disaster risk reduction initiatives.
The momentum continued in the succeeding months. In November 2025, the program sustained strong community participation through extensive stakeholder engagement in disaster risk reduction activities. By March 2026, another 71 preparedness and capacity-building activities had been carried out.
Guided by the Rising Livability pillar of the RISE-to-ACTION Framework, the Iloilo City Government under Mayor Raisa continues to invest in proactive disaster risk reduction initiatives that empower communities, strengthen local capacities, and ensure that every Ilonggo is better prepared for emergencies.
These sustained efforts have earned national recognition, including the 2025 EXCELL Award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region VI for the City’s innovative Iloilo City Action and Resilience (iCARE) Centers, and the 2025 GSIS Gold Seal of Protection Award for its outstanding commitment to safeguarding public assets and strengthening disaster resilience.
