MANILA, Philippines – Is the Philippines prepared for an earthquake?
To intensify community preparedness and strengthen the local government’s commitment in building safe communities, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday, April 21, conducted the nationwide earthquake drill for the first quarter of the year.
The ceremonial launch was conducted in Clark Airbase in Angeles City, Pampanga, which will be the government’s headquarters should an earthquake devastate the capital.
“Our preparedness does not rest in the hands of one person or one government agency alone. It rests in our very hands as we put them together on the concerted effort of building safer, adaptive and resilient communities,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said. (WATCH: Project MOVE: Preparing for earthquakes)
The drill is based on a 7.2-magnitude earthquake caused by the movement of the West Valley Fault. According to the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), this scenario is expected to bring devastation to Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional offices also conducted earthquake drills in their areas.
On social media, netizens and government agencies nationwide posted photos of their duck, cover, and hold drills.
.@philredcross joins the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill. Make preparedness a way of life. #Pagyanig pic.twitter.com/d9tw3lOz5o
— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) April 21, 2016
Catbalogan City fireman duck cover and hold during the nationwide quake drill.#Pagyanig pic.twitter.com/CWH7ukHzoK
— Pia Samar (@SamarPia) April 21, 2016
Muntinlupa local government unit participate in the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) #Pagyanig pic.twitter.com/vyvAFbuhcs
— OFFICIAL MUNTINLUPA (@OFFICIALMUNTI) April 21, 2016
DILG MIMAROPA employees have 1st Aid trng fr PRC to help aid injured personnel #pagyanig #earthquakedrill pic.twitter.com/3ezdlp6DeK
— DILG MIMAROPA (@dilgmimaropa) April 21, 2016
Students of Ramon Diaz school in Gandara, Samar duck, cover and hold during the quake drill. #Pagyanig pic.twitter.com/VmcBjYlGYu
— Pia Samar (@SamarPia) April 21, 2016
PIA12/KORONADAL: NSED at Prov'l Engineering Office, South Cotabato #Pagyanig #Pagyanigchallenge #RescuePH pic.twitter.com/7JrAGTKfwU
— PIA Region 12 (@piaregion12) April 21, 2016
DSWD employees join the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill #Pagyanig pic.twitter.com/NcjSYIqgSC
— DSWD (@dswdserves) April 21, 2016
The nationwide drill was conducted on the heels of major earthquakes that struck Ecuador, Myanmar, Japan, and Vanuatu. Many feared that the “Big One” could be about to strike after these recent strong tremors happened, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) dismissed the rumors, noting that the quakes have no influence on each other. – David Lozada/ Rappler.com
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