#MMShakeDrill: Private sector, LGUs to use social media during quake drill

MANILA, Philippines – How can social media help get the public ready for a big earthquake that could hit Metro Manila?

This was the question tackled in a half-day Project Agos workshop with Metro Manila-based companies, local government units (LGUs), and responders in anticipation of the Metro Manila Earthquake Drill on July 30, dubbed “Shake Drill”, held in Makati City. 

Rappler, in partnership with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) trained 100 participants on how to utilize social media to increase public awareness of the Shake Drill and how to manage critical information in times of crisis. (READ: How to use social media when the Big One hits Metro Manila) 

MMDA General Manager Corazon Jimenez said it was necessary for all Metro Manila stakeholders to work together and prepare for the predicted big earthquake. She also underscored the importance of using social media for disaster preparedness.

“We asked for this workshop from Rappler because we wanted to make sure our documentation in social media is proper. Dapat maipagmalaki sa mundo. The world is looking at us now,” said Jimenez.

Aside from learning about social media tools, participants also discussed their earthquake preparedness plans. A representative from a private company, who did not identify himself, told Rappler that local governments need to do more to inform the public about the upcoming Shake Drill, including publicizing details on each local government’s response plans. 

Shake drill

On July 30, the government will spearhead the Metro Manila Earthquake Drill. The drill, touted as the first and biggest metro-wide drill, will involve all 16 cities and one municipality of Metropolitan Manila, as well as multiple government agencies, schools, and  private establishments.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. participating organizations will simulate a  7.2 magnitude earthquake. The public is encouraged to participate by practicing the duck, cover, hold, and evacuate technique. Local governments will mobilize their disaster response teams and set-up field operations and evacuation centers in four scattered areas: Veterans Memorial Medical Center Golf Course, Villamor Golf Course, Intramuros Golf Course, and the LRT 2 Depot.  

Participate and learn

While the workshop took place, local disaster risk reduction and managment officials (DRRMOs) met with MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino and representatives of government agencies to map out plans for the Shake Drill. 

Tolentino called on all LGUs to actively participate in the Shake Drill and learn from the experience. He added the participation of everyone is critical to the drill’s success, citing a similar drill conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that involved various sectors of society.

Disaster managers all agreed that coordination and public participation was needed to ensure the drill’s success and ultimately to save lives, should the real earthquake strike.  

Partnership

Rappler has partnered with the MMDA to increase public awareness of the Shake Drill through the use of social media. A unified hashtag, #MMShakeDrill, will be used throughout the exercise to document what each individual, organization, and company is doing on the day of the drill.

Rappler’s Project Agos team also created a special Project Agos Alert Map to visually map the reports expected from the public before, during and after the drill.

The public is encouraged to plot on the Project Agos Alert Map before and during the actual drill with the hashtag #MMShakeDrill. – Rappler.com 

For more information about the #MMShakeDrill, visit the official website. 

Tweet your #MMShakeDrill photo during the earthquake drill and show us how prepared you are for the big one.