Iloilo holds large-scale tsunami, earthquake drill to prepare coastal towns

ILOILO CITY — With the rumble of recent earthquakes still fresh in memory, the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) launched a large-scale tsunami and earthquake evacuation drill on 23 October 2025 to prepare vulnerable coastal communities for potential seismic disasters.

The drill, held in Barangay Talokgangan, Banate, served as the ceremonial site for the regionwide simultaneous exercise ordered by the Office of Civil Defense and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

“We chose Banate because it’s one of the most exposed areas in Iloilo — nine coastal villages, mostly light-material houses, and very limited infrastructure protection,” said PDRRMO head Cornelio Salinas in a phone interview. “There are no embankments, wave breakers, or dikes. What we want is to train them to be resilient — to know what to do when disaster strikes.”

The drill began with an earthquake alarm, followed by a second signal simulating a tsunami warning. The sound of church bells served as part of the community-based warning system, alerting residents to move to higher ground — a symbolic nod to local ingenuity and tradition in times of danger.

Salinas said the activity aimed to raise public awareness, strengthen local response mechanisms, and build a culture of preparedness across Iloilo’s coastal belt.

“This is just a pilot area,” he added. “After this, we’ll replicate the drill in other barangays, applying the lessons we learned here.”

Citing geological data, Salinas warned that the Negros Trench could generate tsunamis as high as a three-story building in Iloilo City and potentially reach the province’s fourth district.

The Iloilo and Antique drills marked the first wave of the province’s synchronized emergency preparedness efforts. Neighboring provinces — Aklan, Capiz, and Guimaras — joined the second day of the massive simulation on 24 October.

Officials said the initiative underscores Iloilo’s commitment to staying a step ahead of nature’s fury — before tremors from the deep turn into tragedy.