#RescueMarch: Disaster responders unite for ‘worst quake scenario’

David Lozada

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#RescueMarch: Disaster responders unite for ‘worst quake scenario’
Wearing their full rescue gears and carrying their disaster response equipment, more than 300 disaster responders march from Quezon City Circle to Liwasang Bonifacio

MANILA, Philippines – More than 300 disaster responders from national agencies, local government units, and volunteer groups participated in the 2nd annual Rescue March on Sunday, April 26, in preparation for a major earthquake that could strike Metro Manila any time. 

Wearing their full rescue gears and carrying their disaster response equipment, the different teams started their march from Quezon City Circle at 5 am and reached Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila by 9 am. 

“What we want to test here actually are the endurance and physical capabilities of the rescuers. At the same time, we’re also testing the operational readiness of the teams,” Martin Aguda, Rescue March director, said.

Earthquake is the biggest natural hazard that Metro Manila faces. According to the data released by the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) in 2003, a magnitude 7 or higher movement of the West Valley fault, which runs through major parts of the National Capital Region, would result in a death toll of at least 35,000 people and injury to as much as 120,000 others.

The same study also estimated that around 40% of residential buildings will sustain heavy damage or collapse. Roads will be impassable. 

“Based on the government’s plan and the MMEIRS study, Metro Manila will be isolated into 4 quadrants if a 7.2-magnitude quake hits. We have to be ready to walk. Are we really physically fit as rescuers to perform our job?” Aguda, who is also the founder of Orange Helmets, said. 

Beyond Manila

During last year’s Rescue March, participating teams were asked to walk from Bonifacio Global City in Taguig to Quezon City Circle. The organizers plan to “close the loop” in Metro Manila’s 4 quadrants in the next 2 years.  

READY. Rescue March participants prepare to leave Quezon City Hall to start the activity.

The long term plan, which is to expand the activity to other provinces, has already been set in motion. Although the march was based on a scenario in Metro Manila, disaster response teams and individual rescuers from different provinces participated in the event. 

Major Nonoy Pava of the Philippine Army Reserve Command came all the way from Bukidnon to participate in the rescue march.  

“I’m so glad to have participated in this activity because beyond testing our phyisical abilities, it also tests our will as responders,” Pava said. 

As the NSTP director of Central Mindanao University, Pava said he wants to bring the activity to Bukidnon and his university so that more people will be aware of importance of personal preparedness.

“We are really planning to replicate this activity in our province, given the realities of our lives there – we face both natural and man-made hazards. We want to change the people’s mindsets. We want them to be proactive and not be complacent,” Pava added. 

‘We are learning’

LONG WALK. Rescue March participants walk along Quezon Avenue.

The University of Cordilleras (UC) disaster response group, who came all the way from Baguio City, also participated in this year’s march so they can test their earthquake scenario response.

“We always ask ourselves what we need to improve and what we can still do to innovate disaster response in our province so this was a very good opportunity for the team,” said Ruel Custina, head of safety and security of UC. 

A volunteer group for Baguio City, the UC team responds to emergencies, conducts search and rescue operations, and holds regular trainings for other schools in their area. 

“Baguio City learned its lesson from the 1990 earthquake that hit us. We continue to be alert, to train our students so when a real emergency like that strikes, we are able to cope with the demands of such emergency situation,” Custina added. (READ: Remembering the 1990 Luzon earthquake) 

Self-assessment

While traversing Quezon Avenue, the responders were given other exercises and drills to accomplish. At one stop, they were required to do the Mogadishu Walk, where one of their team members were “injured” and had to be carried for a certain distance. 

The teams were required to assign a team member who will post updates on social media. These posts were plotted in the Project Agos alert map. The hashtag #RescueMarch also trended on Twitter for almost 4 hours. (READ: #RescueMarch: What is it all about?) 

The march highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of each team. Aguda, however, maintained that the march should not be seen as a contest but a test of the rescue teams’ workflow. 

CAMARADERIE. Rescue March director Martin Aguda of Orange Helmets says the activity aims to help responders connect with their counterparts from other cities.

“If they feel that they are lagging behind other teams, they should practice and train more. We will not give them evaluations but we want them assess themselves,” he added.

The rescue march also served as an avenue for disaster responders to network and create ties with other teams. This, according to Aguda, is important in Metro Manila given that the cities are vulnerable to the same hazards. 

“It’s important that they know each other, that they can ask each other’s help in times of calamities. There should be no boundaries. Asking help should be as easy as asking a favor from a friend,” he concluded. 

Among those who showed their support for the rescuers, were NDRRMC chief Usec Alexander Pama, MMDA general manager Corazon Jimenez, and Manila DRRM chief Johnny Yu, who welcomed the participants at the Liwasang Bonifacio. – Rappler.com

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