Metro shake drill sked: 4 a.m. on a Saturday

Most people will probably still be asleep when this year’s Metro Manila Shake Drill is held on July 27, a Saturday.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Thursday that the annual drill would be held starting at 4 a.m. to “test the response capabilities and preparedness of [local government units] and the private sector as earthquakes may occur anytime.”

“We are doing this to prepare everyone to minimize damage and loss of life,” MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said.

The drill will cover both local government units (LGUs) and private organizations to demonstrate their preparedness for “The Big One.”

As always, it will start with the sounding of an alarm. It will be up to the LGUs, however, to maximize participation among their employees.

The MMDA will deploy personnel to designated emergency operation centers located in the Metro’s four quadrants.

The northern quadrant will use the Veterans Memorial Medical Center Golf Course as an evacuation camp while the western quadrant will use the Intramuros Golf Course.

The eastern quadrant will use the Light Rail Transit 2 Santolan depot while the southern quadrant will use the Villamor Golf Course. —KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING AND JACOB LAZARO