More safety drills eyed to prepare public for disasters

Lorenzana and Jalad discussed the damages, casualties and government actions being carried out. (File Photo: City Government of Davao/Facebook)

MANILA — Defense officials have recommended the conduct of more safety drills to raise awareness and prepare the public for future disasters after a series of earthquakes struck Mindanao last month.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this was among the recommendations made by National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairperson, Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad during Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

During the meeting, Undersecretary Renato Solidum, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, briefed the Cabinet on the series of earthquakes in Mindanao.

Lorenzana and Jalad discussed the damages, casualties and government actions being carried out.

The defense officials recommended the sustainment of relief operations, improvement of facilities used as evacuation centers and construction of temporary shelters and permanent housing.

They also suggested the need to repair and reconstruct damaged schools, provide livelihood and training and loan assistance to families, and conduct of post disaster needs assessment.

Three powerful earthquakes hit parts of Mindanao last October.

On October 16, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Tulunan, North Cotabato around 7:37 p.m. at a depth of eight kilometers. It was followed by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in the southeastern part of Tulunan, North Cotabato on Oct. 29 and a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck again Tulunan on October 31.

Mitigation officials said the series of earthquakes have killed at least 22 people, injured hundreds, and displaced over 8,000 residents.

At present, the government continues to expedite the release of relief items and goods for those severely affected by the Mindanao earthquakes and assured that there is enough stock for affected families.

Lorenzana urged quake victims to go to their designated evacuation centers and barangay halls for assistance following reports that some quake victims are begging for help along the roads.