DOT reminds accredited establishments to be ‘quake-ready’

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday reminded accredited tourism establishments to remain vigilant following subsequent earthquakes that took place the past few days (Photo: Jun Acullador/Flickr)

MANILA—The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday reminded accredited tourism establishments to remain vigilant following subsequent earthquakes that took place the past few days.

“We have always reminded accredited establishments to conduct earthquake drills from time to time,” Tourism Undersecretary for Media Affairs Kat de Castro said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency.

“It’s in being prepared that we can ensure the safety of all tourists,” she added.

De Castro also assured that the agency continues to coordinate with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for advisories and safety measures.

“Earthquakes are still considered unpredictable so what we do at the DOT is to work closely with agencies like PHILVOCS and NDRRMC,” De Castro said.

“We follow their lead when earthquakes or any other form of disaster takes place,” she added.

Several earthquakes recently rocked areas in Luzon and Mindanao the past days ranging from magnitudes 5 to 6.

Philvocs, meanwhile, urged the public to determine if their homes and work areas are safe by answering a 12-point questionnaire to assess the earthquake-readiness of their houses. It is based on the recommendation of the National Building Code and Structural Code of the Philippines.

The checklist “House safe is your house?” is available in the Philvocs website, www.philvocs.dost.gov.ph.

It says that an earthquake resistant house is one that will not collapse in an intensity 9 earthquake.