MANILA — In line with efforts to create more disaster resilient communities, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council conducted its 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) Thursday afternoon.
Ceremonial venue for 2nd Quarter NSED is at Barangay Sta. Ana, San Mateo, Rizal. Local drills were conducted nationwide through the Regional DRRM Councils.
Vice-Chair for Preparedness and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año, Vice-Chair for Response and Acting Secretary for Social Welfare and Development Virginia N. Orogo, National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Jose Miguel R. De La Rosa, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Deputy Director Dr. Bartolome C. Bautista, NDRRMC Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator Ricardo B. Jalad, Department of Health Director Gloria J. Balboa, Rizal Governor Rebecca “Nini” Ynares and San Mateo Mayor Cristina C. Diaz pressed the ceremonial button at exactly 2 p.m..
Residents of San Mateo performed the ‘duck, cover and hold’ right after hearing a loud 60-second siren signaling a magnitude-7.2 earthquake generated from the West Valley Fault affecting the Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA).
Various scenarios were performed, portraying the possible impacts of a strong earthquake based on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS).
“Ang indibidwal na paghahanda ay haligi ng isang komunidad na matatag sa banta ng kalamidad katulad ng isang malakas na lindol. Ating seryosohin at isa-puso ang mga pagsasanay katulad nito, upang tayo’y maging ligtas at mamuhay ng panatag (Individual preparation is a pillar of a community that is ready in facing the threat of calamities such as a strong earthquake. Let us take these drills seriously for us to be safe and secure),” Año added.
The scenarios involved the conduct of Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis, camp coordination and camp management, search rescue and retrieval, fire suppression, emergency medical response, chemical decontamination, and management of the dead and missing.
The 2nd quarter NSED has the objective to test the community preparedness efforts, synergize and synchronize efforts towards supporting the effective implementation of both the National and Regional Disaster Response Plan.
Local drills across the nation were documented in social media through the NSED 2018 campaign “Bida Ang Handa”.
The official hashtag, #BidaAngHanda trended online during the NSED day. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
