ReliefWeb

By Francis A. Nacua

CEBU CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) -- The nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill for the fourth quarter this year is set on Nov. 14, 2019 to test the capabilities of institutions and the public during and after a quake.

It was just recently that consecutive strong quakes shook parts of Mindanao and left buildings in rubbles, people injured, claimed lives, and displacing families.

In Central Visayas, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD-7) has picked the City of Talisay in Cebu to be the pilot area for this quarter's quake drill.

OCD-7 also called on personnel of schools, malls, government institutions as well as high-rise buildings in the region to take part in the drill that is scheduled at 9:00 a.m.

OCD-7 Information Officer Riza Joy Hernandez said the provinces of Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental will also take part in the simualtneous drill.

“Kung mo consider ta kana lang eskwelahan, nakita nato sa Mindanao one-storey lang siya pero nahapa gyud (We have seen in the Mindana earthquake how even one-storey buildings are damaged),” Hernandez said as she emphasized that low-rise buildings do not guarantee safety from quakes.

Hernandez explained that low or high-rise buildings are still prone to possible destruction depending on the intensity of the earthquake.

She called on the public not to underestimate earthquakes no matter how ready they are.

Meanwhile, Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Officer Alvin Satillana said around 40,000 people in their area are expected to participate in the earthquake simulation, the scenario of which will be based on an intensity 7 level earthquake.

Santillana said their focus area in the city is in the Poblacion.

He shared that during their previous drills, they have encountered challenges such as people not internalizing the drill while others over-internalize the drill, resulting to people passing out and causing chaos.

Satillana said the city’s DRRM will test the resiliency of the schools and their participation in the simulation by responding to quake victims. (fan/pia7)