BACOLOD CITY — The need to improve the disaster management response among the city employees was observed during the 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill held at the Bacolod City Government Center on Thursday afternoon.
“We see the need for more improvement, but we also see that our city has preparations for this kind of event,” said Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, cluster head for City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The exercise served as a platform for various responders such as the police, firefighters and rescue units to know their role in case of an earthquake, he added.
Vargas said they found out that the Bacolod Government Center lacks an alarm system, which is needed in case of fire.
“I will report the outcome of the earthquake drill to the mayor (Evelio Leonardia), and will discuss with him what needs to be improved in the government building,” he added.
Vargas also noted that the city employees did not show a sense of urgency, but “panicked” during the earthquake drill, a reaction which should be addressed during the conduct of a review.
There should also be a safety committee in every office, he added.
“We’re hoping it will not happen in an actual scenario. During an earthquake, you’re on your own so they cannot rely on us all the time,” he added.
About 780 city employees based at the Bacolod Government Center and at least 200 visitors participated in the earthquake drill.
Ma. Aletha Nogra, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense-6 (Western Visayas), said there should be a contingency planning response cluster in every office.
They should know what to do if a disaster like this happens, she added.
“We hope the employees will get orientation on what is earthquake, what is the level of exposure of Bacolod, what are the risks. We need massive information and education campaign and training for the employees,” she said.
Nogra said that Republic Act 10121, or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, has a provision, which requires government employees to be trained in terms of disaster management.
The CDRRMO itself can initiate a program to train the employees, she added.
Meanwhile, earthquake drills were also conducted in the city’s 69 public elementary and secondary schools, as well as the Department of Public Works and Highways Bacolod District Engineering Office, Bacolod City Police Office and SM City Bacolod. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
