By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
More representatives from the private sector are now joining the government’s national earthquake drills as they see the importance of these activities, an official of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday, Nov. 9.
“Nakikita ko ang kamalayan. Before it used to be just the government initiating this but through the years, nagpa-participate na dun ating mga pribadong sektor, yun mga paaralan, at mga lokal na pamahalaan, they are actively participating and we’re very thankful dahil sa suporta nila dito sa adbokasiya natin na ito,” NDRRMC spokesperson Edgar Posadas said on the sidelines of the earthquake drill as part of the 4th quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Posadas said the Office of Civil Defense, the NDRRMC’s executive arm, will continue promoting its earthquake preparedness advocacy.
“We continue our advocacy, somehow kahit maliit kahit maliit lang na boses, (even if our voice is quite small), I hope they would hear us and they would be part of the advocacy,” he added.
Posadas said this advocacy is worthwhile as it involves saving lives.
The main event for this quarter’s NSED was held in Casiguran, Aurora in line with the observance of World Tsunami Awareness Day.
It added that Casiguran, Aurora was chosen as the ceremonial site for the fourth quarter NSED to commemorate the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck the province on August 2, 1968.
Records from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said tall waves along Casiguran Bay were observed and tsunami probability was assessed as “positive” with estimated three meters height in areas along Casiguran Bay.
