EARTHQUAKE DRILL. A Laguna police officer directs teachers, students, townsfolk and “earthquake victims” to “safety,” as he ensures traffic management as part of vital police operation - in one of the scenarios and simulated drills in schools and communities for the 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Drill (NSED) 2018 on June 21, 2018. (Photo courtesy of LPPO-PIO)
CAMP GEN. PACIANO RIZAL, Sta. Cruz, Laguna – Police and non-uniformed personnel of the Laguna police provincial office and its city and municipal police stations joined Thursday’s 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drills (NSED) 2018.
Police Senior Supt. Kirby John Kraft, the Laguna police provincial director, said the police massive participation in the simulated drills and mock demonstrations in the event of an earthquake or major disaster is in support of the government’s #BidaAngHanda campaign as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) initiative to promote disaster preparedness and resilience among police personnel, the citizenry and the public.
“While these drills assess the level of disaster preparedness and resilience of the community, it also aims to assess and promote our level of preparedness in fulfilling our roles and responsibilities as police officers,” Kraft said.
He referred to the cops’ vital duties in promoting safety, risk mitigation and management in the eventuality of disasters and emergencies.
He spearheaded the earthquake drills at the provincial police headquarters here in Bagumbayan, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, while the city and municipal police stations conducted their respective earthquake drills in various schools and local government units (LGUs) and other designated areas within their respective areas of responsibility.
Minutes before the earthquake-simulated drills, Chief Inspector Pastor Castillo, chief of the Laguna police community relations branch (PCR), urged the police stations’ PCR units to encourage various sectors and the community folks to participate in the “mock” earthquake scenario.
Meanwhile, Supt. Ronan Claravall, chief of the Laguna police public information office, reported that the “mock” earthquake scenario provided the village folks, students and residents awareness and consciousness on what to do when an earthquake strikes, like proceeding to a designated evacuation area, keeping secured in safer grounds and executing the basic “duck, cover and hold” as earthquake victims are herded to open and safe sites where they are attended to by emergency responders.
Claravall said that upon cue for the start of the simulated drill, the police officers also executed the “duck, cover and hold” while scores of other police officers performed disaster operations like emergency assistance to disaster victims, police presence and visibility to direct people to safer grounds and traffic management in the conduct of the drills and scenarios. (PNA)
