MMDA conducts earthquake drill

Employees of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and rescue volunteer groups on Sunday held drills in preparation for a powerful temblor striking Metro Manila, a rare but possible occurrence that could reduce the capital to rubble.

“This is a practice drill to prepare everybody on what to do and where to go in case a massive earthquake occurs. It is our mandate to be the first responders. We want to be ready all the time,” said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino in a statement. The contingency plan called “Oplan Metro Yakal,” which covers the entire National Capital Region, divided the area into four sectors with each having a base camp of operations for the launch of emergency services. The

MMDA designated the Veterans Memorial Medical Center golf course as the staging area for the north sector, which is composed of Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela and Quezon City.

Residents in the eastern sector (Marikina, Pasig, and San Juan) have the Wack-Wack golf course as the base camp, while those in the west (Manila, Navotas and Pasay) and in the south (Las Piñas, Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Pateros) should go to the Intramuros golf course and Villamor Airbase golf course, respectively.

In a radio interview, Tolentino explained that the staging areas were the biggest open spaces available for people, which should enable the government to set up temporary shelters and tent hospitals to treat the casualties.