ILOILO CITY, Oct. 14 -- The local government and volunteer groups here are ready to respond in case of worst-case scenarios as part of the preparations for the "big one."

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) - Disaster Response Division head Darwin Papa, in an interview on Tuesday, said the city government is equipped with three rescue trucks with a capability for medium rescue and can penetrate big concrete structures and medium-rise buildings.

They also have equipment with the capability of lifting collapsed objects when needed.

"Because we are preparing for the worst-case scenario, or the possibility of collapsed structures and trapped individuals, although we don't want it to happen, if worse comes to worst, ...