The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), is set to wrap up this year’s series of Online Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drills (NSED) with its 4th quarter quake drill on Nov. 11 with full support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The virtual drill will take place at 8:00 a.m. and be livestreamed via the OCD (Civil Defense PH) and NDRRMC’s social media pages.
“Magsisimula ang programa nang alas otso nang umaga at isasagawa ang ceremonial pressing of the button nang ganap na alas nuwebe na hudyat ng ating pagda-duck, cover, and hold!,” Civil Defense PH posted on Facebook.
While earthquake drill exercises that require physical interactions are still suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency reminded the public that the usual evacuation drill will not be carried out during the NSED day to ensure that participants adhere to minimum public health standards.
Participants watching the livestream are expected to do the ‘duck, cover, and hold’ exercises inside their houses and establishments only.
As part of the 4th quarter NSED, a disaster preparedness webinar for persons with disabilities (PWDs), victims of disasters and calamities, and fisherfolk; and tabletop and communication exercises for San Antonio Zambales, to be attended by the Zambales Provincial DRRMC and Regional DRRMC in Central Luzon, will also be conducted on Nov. 9 and 10 respectively.
Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) will livestream the following major facilities for earthquake and tsunami monitoring:
- Phivolcs Data Receiving Center Main Office (DRC) in Quezon City
- Phivolcs Tagaytay Mirror Center in Tagaytay City
- Phivolcs Mindanao Cluster Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (PMCCET) in Davao City
These seismic stations equipped with state-of-the-art earthquake monitoring instruments and data transmission equipment will be seen live in action via the agency’s Facebook page in participation in the nationwide virtual quake drill.
NDRRMC strongly encourages the public to continuously participate in NSED and other national and community-based preparedness activities and programs that will boost capacities to respond to earthquakes and other disasters.
Meanwhile, in support of other disaster preparedness initiatives of the government, the DOST will showcase different disaster management tools from DOST-Phivolcs and DOST-PAGASA during the celebration of the 2021 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) from Nov. 22-28.
The one-week celebration of science and technology carries the theme “Agham at Teknolohiya: Tugon sa Hamon ng Panahon.”
For more information, visit the NSTW website at http://nstw.dost.gov.ph/ and the NSTW Facebook page at https://web.facebook.com/nstwdost. (by Eunice Narvadez, DOST-STII) – jlo
