QUAKE DRILL. Davao City government officials and employees participate in the 4th Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill at the City Hall Grounds on Thursday (Nov. 9, 2023). They performed the “duck, cover, and hold” position before heading out to a designated safer area. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)
MANILA – More representatives from the private sector are now joining the government's national earthquake drills as they see the importance of these activities, an official of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.
"Nakikita ko ang kamalayan, (I now see awareness). Before it used to be just the government initiating this but through the years, nagpa-participate na dun ating mga pribadong sektor, (the private sector is now participating), yun mga paaralan, at mga lokal na pamahalaan, (also the schools and local government units) they are actively participating and we're very thankful dahil sa suporta nila dito sa adbokasiya natin na ito (for their support to our advocacy)," NDRRMC spokesperson Edgar Posadas said on the sidelines of the earthquake drill as part of the 4th quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Posadas said the Office of Civil Defense, the NDRRMC's executive arm, will continue promoting its earthquake preparedness advocacy.
"We continue our advocacy, somehow kahit maliit kahit maliit lang na boses, (even if our voice is quite small), I hope they would hear us and they would be part of the advocacy," he added.
Posadas said this advocacy is worthwhile as it involves saving lives.
Take drills seriously
Meanwhile, NDRRMC chairperson and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged the public to take NSED seriously.
He emphasized the importance of preparedness in order to save more lives and respond quickly to the needs of communities.
As this developed, OCD chief Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno lauded the Casiguran local government unit and the participating organizations, acknowledging that public participation is crucial in building resilience.
On the other hand, as part of the NSED, an earthquake evacuation drill and emergency telecommunications exercise were conducted in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Representatives from the OCD, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard gathered at the AFP grandstand to test communication connectivity with regional disaster councils and response units in other parts of the country.
The main event for this quarter's NSED was held in Casiguran, Aurora in line with the observance of World Tsunami Awareness Day.
It added that Casiguran, Aurora was chosen as the ceremonial site for the fourth quarter NSED to commemorate the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck the province on August 2, 1968.
Records from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said tall waves along Casiguran Bay were observed and tsunami probability was assessed as “positive” with estimated three meters height in areas along Casiguran Bay. (PNA)
