Bontoc– In an aim to ensure that the community will not be caught off-guard during an earthquake, The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) spearheaded the conduct of the 4th Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on November 14, 2019.
The activity was participated in by the Mountain Province Local Government Unit, partner line agencies and the academe, at the Provincial Plaza which was used as an evacuation site. Mock injuries were incurred during the simulation process, one from the Governor’s office, Accounting office, Human Resource Management Office and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College. The injured were responded immediately by the responders from the Emergency Operations Center.
During the drill, different representatives from each agency like Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Justice, Mopreco, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Philippine National Police and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College actively participated in the evaluation of the activity.
Paul Lengwa, local disaster risk reduction management officer (LDRRMO) IV, appreciated the serious participation of all the agencies that were involved which led in the over-all success of the conducted activity. As to over-all assessment, the activity was accomplished much better than the previous years.
In relation to NSED, a series of earthquake incidents happened recently. Magnitude 5.2 hit Tacloban City, followed by magnitude 6.6 and 6.5 earthquakes in Tulnuan, North Cotabato as reported by National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC). Earthquake caused loss of lives and significant damage to infrastructure and properties. “Considering the recent occurrences of earthquake in our country, it is but important to strengthen earthquake preparedness. It is better for us to be prepared in any calamity, we should be alert and be mindful. This kind of activity NSED is therefore encouraged to ensure everyone’s safety,” Lengwa said.
