MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Saturday, June 18, urged Metro Manila residents to participate in the metro-wide earthquake drill happening on June 22. 

In a dzrRB interview on Saturday, June 18, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the goal of the earthquake drill is to cultivate a culture of disaster preparedness in a country prone to different geological hazards. 

Spearheaded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the annual earthquake drill aims to test existing government response plans in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake scenario.

The second quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill, known online as #Pagyanig, will also take place at the same time. (READ: #Pagyanig: NDRRMC holds nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill)

According to studies, the West Valley Fault, which traverses various parts of Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, moves roughly every 400 years, according to Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum. The last major earthquake generated by this fault was in 1658, or 357 years ago. This means the metro is already due for the next big quake.

Coloma elaborated on the objective of the exercise in the radio interview.

“Ang objective kasi dito ay ‘yung ganap na paglahok ng pinaka-maraming mamamayan. Dahil dito lamang sa ating National Capital Region, 14 million ang tinatayang total daytime population, kasama na noong mga nagta-trabaho lamang at umuuwi din sa mga lalawigan,” he said.

(The objective is to involve as many Filipinos into this activity. In NCR along, there is an estimated 14 million daytime population who could be affected by the earthquake, including those who work here and just go home to the provinces.)

This is why, he said, neighboring provinces have been included in the effort, such as Bulacan, Laguna at Cavite “because they would likely be affected by what would happen.”

 In case the West Valley moves, the potentially devastating earthquake is expected to result in an estimated 33,500 casualties and 113, 600 wounded. It could also isolate Metro Manila and surrounding affected areas for days, resulting in food and water shortage. 

In 2015 and during the first #MMShakeDrill, the same hashtag reached over 2.1 billion impressions or views on Twitter from 5 am to 3 pm, according to Rappler’s social listening tool, Reach. On Twitter, “impressions” mean “the times a user is served a Tweet in timeline or search results.”

International observers called the MMDA-initiated earthquake drill a good first attempt. Last year, all 17 local government units participated in the massive simulation of how disaster officials should respond in the event of a powerful quake striking the metropolis.

This is the bar which the MMDA and participating offices aim to surpass in this year’s earthquake drill. – Rappler.com

For more details about the #MMshakedrill, visit mmshakedrill.ph