Manila: The country's quarterly National Simultaneous Earthquake Drills (NSED), which have been conducted for two decades, have demonstrated their effectiveness in preparing citizens for seismic events, as evidenced by the reactions of children in Mindanao during the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Sarangani and nearby provinces on June 8. This was highlighted by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros during the observation of the 2nd quarter NSED on Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cabreros noted that video footage circulating after the earthquake showed students and teachers in Mindanao executing the 'duck, cover, and hold' maneuvers during the tremor. Despite the natural fear and anxiety such situations provoke, the drills instilled a clear understanding of the necessary actions to take during an earthquake. "In the midst of chaos, they remembered the primary actions on what to do in the middle of an earthquake, training that was repeatedly taught by the NSED," Cabreros remarked, emphasizing the importance of these regular exercises.
The OCD official stated that Thursday's NSED is particularly timely, given that earthquakes can occur unpredictably across the country. He emphasized that for the past twenty years, the NSED has been a vital component of the disaster preparedness culture in the Philippines, urging citizens to remain vigilant and integrate disaster preparedness into their daily routines.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also underscored the need for disaster preparedness and active response. He stated that police units nationwide have been instructed to participate actively in the drills to ensure a swift and coordinated response during real earthquakes. "This is a life-saving drill," Nartatez noted, highlighting the necessity for prompt and collaborative efforts to assist citizens.
The second quarter NSED was organized in collaboration with member agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which regularly spearheads nationwide preparedness initiatives to enhance inter-agency coordination during disasters.
In addition to the quarterly drills, Cabreros encouraged the public to follow national building codes and similar regulations, strengthen their disaster contingency plans, and improve coordination between government and other sectors to enhance the country's earthquake resilience.
Thursday's drill scenario was based on a hypothetical earthquake triggered by the movement of the West Valley Fault, resulting in a Philvocs Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) score of VIII.
