The Office of Civil Defense – Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) continues to ensure disaster readiness among Negrenses as it led the Second Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) yesterday.
At the regional ceremonial site in the Victorias National High School (VNHS) in Victorias City, OCD-NIR administrative support and capacity building and training service staff Adonairam Catapia underscored the importance of earthquake drills after the magnitude 7.8 tremor that struck Sarangani, General Santos City, and other parts of Mindanao on June 8.
“With that strong magnitude, we need to duck, cover and hold before proceeding to evacuate. Through this drill, we will assess your readiness,” he told the students, teachers and staff of the VNHS.
The OCD-NIR collaborated with Victorias City and its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) for the simulation conducted within the school campus, which caters to about 6,000 learners.
“More than a routine exercise, the drill served as a practical application of earthquake preparedness measures and tested the readiness, resilience and response capabilities of students, teachers, non-teaching personnel, and emergency responders in the event of a major earthquake,” the OCD-NIR said in a statement.
It noted that the quarterly conduct of the earthquake drill “reflects the shared commitment of communities and institutions to fostering a culture of preparedness and resilience.”
“The OCD-NIR remains committed to promoting disaster preparedness and helping build safer and more resilient communities,” it added.
In Bago City, the CDRRMO also led city government employees during the earthquake drill by performing the standard “duck, cover and hold” procedure, simulating the response protocol in case of a major earthquake.
“The NSED also aims to assess the readiness of local government units [LGUs] and government employees in responding to a major seismic event,” the city government said in a statement.
At the La Carlota City Hall grounds, employees tested disaster survival protocols during the quake drill.
Aside from evaluating the LGU’s readiness to protect residents and maintain critical operations following a major tremor, the drill also served as a platform to promote broader community disaster capabilities and awareness, the La Carlota City LGU said in a statement.
In recent years, Negros Occidental has been particularly hit by destruction brought by earthquakes, super typhoons, flash floods, and volcanic eruptions. (PNA)