BY: MARLON A. LOTERTE
Legazpi City, March 18 (PIA) – Albay and stakeholders’ significant investments over the past years on earthquake risk assessment, reduction, preparedness, response and recovery will be showcased in a school-based drill on Wednesday, March 19, inside the Bicol University here in time for the nationwide simultaneous earthquake (and fire) drill for the first quarter of this year.
OCD Bicol regional director Raffy Alejandro said Bicol University will serve as the ceremonial site for this year’s nationwide drill while other government agencies and local government units are directed to hold similar drill in their respective offices and areas of jurisdiction.
Alejandro explained the conduct of quarterly nationwide earthquake drill is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 1012 stressing that preparedness and mitigation are key strategies in reducing disaster risk.
“The school-based drill will gauge the efficiency of early warning dissemination, preparedness, response and recovery plans and measures in case an actual earthquake occurs,” he said.
“It thus provides significant information and opportunity among communities to become aware and equipped with capability on disaster preparedness, mitigation and response. At this time, we will assess the capacity level of the schools in the event of earthquakes and other disasters,” he added
Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin of the Department of National Defense, Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Usec. Eduardo D. Del Rosario of administrator the Office of the Civil Defense and executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC), are expected to grace the earthquake drill in Bicol University here.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro meanwhile has also directed all public and private schools nationwide as well as all offices and attached agencies of the Department of Education (DepEd) to undertake such activity.
The school-based drill in Bicol University here will be comprised of more than 700 “actors” including students, faculties and employees of Bicol University; Team OCD Bicol ; Philippine National Police (PNP); Health and Emergency Management Service (HEMS) from the Department of Health (DOH) and Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH); Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Legazpi City DRRM Office; Philippine National Red Cross; Philippine Army; Philippine Navy; Philippine Coast Guard; Tactical Operations Group (TOG5); and, Bureau of Fire Protections.
Scenario for the earthquake (and fire) drill describes students, teachers and faculties among others in the Bicol University College of Arts and Letters are holding regular classes around 9:00 am when suddenly disrupted by a loud bang followed by shaking of the grounds, building wobbling, ceiling starting to fall, cracks observed in floors and walls... signs of an earthquake unfolding.
All occupants of the BUCAL building started to evacuate and lined up at the designated safe area followed by the headcount to determine the missing that may have perhaps been trapped and injured.
Within minutes following the incident command system procedures, an incident command post has been established and plan of actions was executed in response to the aftermath of the incident.
Phivolcs, within 5-10 minutes, has informed OCD in Bicol and announced to the public that Legazpi City was hit by a magnitude.7.4 earthquake and advise every one of necessary safety measures for aftershocks that may follow.
OCD Bicol, consequently, informed responders and other stakeholders of the DRRMC for response and rescue measures, psychosocial management procedures for the victims, assessment of the damages, among others measures.
The drill is expected to be completed in an hour.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda and top DRR officials from DND and DILG will serve as the evaluators that will assess the proceedings of the exercise, consequently, recommend learnings to improve policies and plan of actions to address the challenges of disaster, in this case earthquake and related incidents. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
Legazpi City, March 18 (PIA) – Albay and stakeholders’ significant investments over the past years on earthquake risk assessment, reduction, preparedness, response and recovery will be showcased in a school-based drill on Wednesday, March 19, inside the Bicol University here in time for the nationwide simultaneous earthquake (and fire) drill for the first quarter of this year.
OCD Bicol regional director Raffy Alejandro said Bicol University will serve as the ceremonial site for this year’s nationwide drill while other government agencies and local government units are directed to hold similar drill in their respective offices and areas of jurisdiction.
Alejandro explained the conduct of quarterly nationwide earthquake drill is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 1012 stressing that preparedness and mitigation are key strategies in reducing disaster risk.
“The school-based drill will gauge the efficiency of early warning dissemination, preparedness, response and recovery plans and measures in case an actual earthquake occurs,” he said.
“It thus provides significant information and opportunity among communities to become aware and equipped with capability on disaster preparedness, mitigation and response. At this time, we will assess the capacity level of the schools in the event of earthquakes and other disasters,” he added
Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin of the Department of National Defense, Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Usec. Eduardo D. Del Rosario of administrator the Office of the Civil Defense and executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC), are expected to grace the earthquake drill in Bicol University here.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro meanwhile has also directed all public and private schools nationwide as well as all offices and attached agencies of the Department of Education (DepEd) to undertake such activity.
The school-based drill in Bicol University here will be comprised of more than 700 “actors” including students, faculties and employees of Bicol University; Team OCD Bicol ; Philippine National Police (PNP); Health and Emergency Management Service (HEMS) from the Department of Health (DOH) and Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH); Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Legazpi City DRRM Office; Philippine National Red Cross; Philippine Army; Philippine Navy; Philippine Coast Guard; Tactical Operations Group (TOG5); and, Bureau of Fire Protections.
Scenario for the earthquake (and fire) drill describes students, teachers and faculties among others in the Bicol University College of Arts and Letters are holding regular classes around 9:00 am when suddenly disrupted by a loud bang followed by shaking of the grounds, building wobbling, ceiling starting to fall, cracks observed in floors and walls... signs of an earthquake unfolding.
All occupants of the BUCAL building started to evacuate and lined up at the designated safe area followed by the headcount to determine the missing that may have perhaps been trapped and injured.
Within minutes following the incident command system procedures, an incident command post has been established and plan of actions was executed in response to the aftermath of the incident.
Phivolcs, within 5-10 minutes, has informed OCD in Bicol and announced to the public that Legazpi City was hit by a magnitude.7.4 earthquake and advise every one of necessary safety measures for aftershocks that may follow.
OCD Bicol, consequently, informed responders and other stakeholders of the DRRMC for response and rescue measures, psychosocial management procedures for the victims, assessment of the damages, among others measures.
The drill is expected to be completed in an hour.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda and top DRR officials from DND and DILG will serve as the evaluators that will assess the proceedings of the exercise, consequently, recommend learnings to improve policies and plan of actions to address the challenges of disaster, in this case earthquake and related incidents. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
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