Earthquake drill bolsters people, government preparedness for ‘Big One’ – DILG Chief

(PNA photo)

MANILA – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said the earthquake drill conducted in Metro Manila on Thursday bolstered the government’s preparations for actual tremors and enabled the people to know what to do before, during and after earthquakes to better protect themselves.

“Earthquakes can happen anytime without warning. It is best that we are doing this [earthquake drill] to prepare ourselves when the real one occurs,” Roxas said during a briefing of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo.

Roxas joined other Cabinet members, namely: Secretaries Corazon Soliman of Social Welfare, Voltaire Gazmin of Defense, Joseph Emilio Abaya of Transportation, Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, Janette L. Garin of Health, AFP Chief of Staff Hernando Iriberri, and NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama in an earthquake drill that simulated preparations and response activities of government agencies in an event of a strong quake hitting Metro Manila.

After the sirens went off for 45 seconds, NDRRMC officials and other personnel gathered in an open field in front of the Aguinaldo Grandstand where the NDRRMC set up a command post and a monitoring center.

As vice chairperson of the NDRRMC, Roxas said that preparedness and alertness are among the key factors needed to lessen the impact of disasters, which greatly affect the lives of many Filipinos.

During the simulation, Roxas became part of the response cluster as head of DILG and immediately manned the post where DILG personnel would help in the assessment of establishments, including government buildings and vital installations like airports and communications facilities.

The DILG chief also said that the drill simulated scenarios where both the government and the people work together for the welfare of all Filipinos.

For his part, NDRRMC Chairman and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that there will be an assessment of the performance of government agencies to address gaps during the drill.