Churches asked to spread info on nat’l quake drill

“The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense will be holding the First Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on March 12, 2020, Thursday, at 2 p.m. In this connection, the said office has kindly requested the CBCP to help in the (information) drive by announcing this activity in all churches this coming Sunday, March 8, 2020,” stated Circular 20-09 signed by CBCP assistant secretary general Msgr. Bernardo Pantin. (File Photo By User:Patrickroque01 – Taken using my own camera with model DSC-HX5V, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Thursday asked all churches to inform the faithful of the conduct of the First Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) set to be held next week.

“The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense will be holding the First Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on March 12, 2020, Thursday, at 2 p.m. In this connection, the said office has kindly requested the CBCP to help in the (information) drive by announcing this activity in all churches this coming Sunday, March 8, 2020,” stated Circular 20-09 signed by CBCP assistant secretary general Msgr. Bernardo Pantin.

Below is the announcement that has been prepared which can be read on Sunday:

“Sa darating na ika-labindalawa ng Marso, Huwebes, alas dos nang hapon inaanyayahan ang lahat na lumahok sa Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED). Ang NSED sa pangunguna ng Office of Civil Defense (OCD) National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) ay isang pagsasanay na ginaganap apat na beses sa isang taon. Layunin nitong pagtibayin ang kaalaman at kahandaan ng bawat Pilipino sa mga isinasagawa bago, habang at pagkatapos ng lindol. Katuwang ang simbahan sa paghihikayat sa publiko na makiisa sa gagawing aktibidad. Sa oras ng pagtunog ng sirena na naghuhudyat ng pagsisimula ng aktibidad, mangyaring makilahok at sumunod sa mga panuntunan ng mga awtoridad sa inyong lugar, paaralan at mga opisina.”

Pantin added that the public also needs to be prepared for any catastrophe.

A daily average of 20 earthquakes occur in the Philippines that lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent due to friction between shifting tectonic plates.

In case of earthquakes, the NDRRMC advised the public to remain calm, look for the safest and nearest exit route, beware of falling debris, and proceed to designated evacuation assembly areas.

Aside from earthquakes, the Philippines is also prone to other natural disasters such as typhoons and volcanic eruptions.