Phivolcs director: It was like watching a movie

Following last week’s 2019 First Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill, which took place in Iloilo City, both Office of Civil Defense-Region VI Director Jose Roberto Nuñez and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director, Dr. Renato Solidum, deemed the event a success.

“It was 100 percent successful,” Nuñez stated, “We [saw] all agencies [participating], especially the city government, responders, and people of Iloilo City.”

Prior to the drill, the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and regional civil defense office identified five “impact areas” across the city. They included John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, SM City Iloilo, the Iloilo Business Park, Iloilo Mission Hospital, and City Hall.

In addition, drills were also conducted at West Visayas State University; Barangays Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte, and Calaparan in the city’s Arevalo district; and various public schools.

“I am very happy with the drill; in fact, it [felt] like I was watching a movie,” Solidum noted.

The Phivolcs official also commended the city government and all participants./WDJ