LAGUNA, Philippines – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday, March 13, mounted the Philippines’ first nationwide earthquake drill for this year in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
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Over 1,300 local government units and the private sector joined and executed simulations such as damage assessment, hazardous materials response, search and rescue, jailbreak situations, and evacuation of school children with learning difficulties.
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During a press conference at the Santa Rosa, Laguna City Hall Stadium, OCD chief Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno stressed that the drill is a litmus test for both the national government and local governments on whether they have the capacity to respond to the “Big One” or the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that can possibly hit Metro Manila. (READ: [Vantage Point] Is the gov’t ready for the ‘Big One’?)
“Ang sinasanay natin ngayon ay ang kakayahan ng ating national government at local government na sabay-sabay na gumalaw bilang pagtugon doon sa mangyayaring malaking lindol,” Nepomuceno said.
(What we are training for now is the capability of our national government and local governments to simultaneously act in response to a major earthquake.)
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Nepomuceno also zeroed in on the lag in terms of disaster preparedness in the country. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“The Philippines’ top ranking in the World Risk Index is a clear proof of the long road ahead. We cannot get tired, we cannot surrender. It is our duty to save ourselves, our loved ones, and also our community members if we have the chance when a major disaster strikes,” he added.
According to a survey conducted by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) in 2024, the National Capital Region scored low in terms of disaster preparedness. This, despite the fact that the country is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions take place. (READ: Hazard-prone NCR falls behind in disaster preparedness — Harvard study)
Nepomuceno pointed out the need for a unified plan between cities and how it should be a standard procedure to also mount disaster management plans for their neighbors in need.
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Social Welfare Undersecretary Diane Cajipe pointed out that the responsibility of preparing for disasters is not only the task of government but also of citizens.
“Knowledge is something that each one of us dapat mayroon because that would save us. After us, our loved ones, after our loved ones, ‘yung mga kasama nila. Then, after that, ‘yung mga taong tinuturuan natin. But it always has to begin with us.“
(Knowledge is something that each one of us should have because that would save us. After us, our loved ones, after our loved ones, those who are with them. Then, after that, the people we teach. But it always has to begin with us.)
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Cajipe also lamented the challenges in executing disaster preparation plans on the ground: “Kahit ano’ng ganda ng ating mga (No matter how good the) plans on paper, if only a few of us know it, how can it be efficient really?”
To this, Capije offered a solution, “Ibababa po natin sa komunidad, at napakalaking tulong ng social media in this information campaign (Let us bring it down to the roots, in the community, and social media is a huge help in this information campaign).”
Earthquakes remain unpredictable, but science and rigorous research continue to better understand this natural phenomenon, and in turn, help governments make informed plans and protocols to better help their communities. (READ: Getting closer to the holy grail of earthquake prediction) – with reports from Andrei Rosario/Rappler.com