TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – The Cavite provincial government, through its Office of Public Safety (PC-COPS) – the provincial disaster risk reduction and response management team, will spearhead a series of earthquake drills in support of the 2018 2nd quarter nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill (NSED) at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 21.
PC-COPS Information Officer Trixia Flores told Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday that this quarter’s scenario site will be at the Department of Education compound in Barangay San Agustin here. The NSED is aimed to also check on the preparedness of educational institutions during disaster and emergencies.
Cavite is one of the provinces near Metro Manila, other than Bulacan, Rizal and Laguna, as among probable areas to be hit hard in the event of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake – referred to as the “Big One” when the West Valley Fault moves, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Three of its towns–Carmona, Silang, and General Mariano Alvarez–are directly atop the West Valley fault line.
The provincial council on disaster preparedness and response advocates “Operation: Listo!” and #BidaAngHanda for the province’s disaster response and preparedness program to convey among Cavitenos that preparedness and readiness are key in surviving any emergencies or disaster.
Active participation in the quarterly NSED aims to continuously educate the public on disaster preparedness such as the basic safety tips on “duck, cover and hold” during an earthquake.
The quarterly NSED is an undertaking required by the Office of Civil Defense – with the full participation of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices, councils, local government units, various sectors, and the Department of Interior and Local Government, the chair on disaster preparedness. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
