DOST reminds public: Participate in earthquake, tsunami drills

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized the importance of earthquake drills as part of disaster preparedness on Saturday.

“Kaya paulit-ulit po nating binabanggit na dapat paghandaan ang malalakas na lindol at posibleng tsunami sa mga dalampasigan kaya marapat na ang mga local governments at mga residente ay patuloy ang ginagawang earthquake drills at kasama na rin ang tsunami drills,” Solidum said in a DZRH radio program with Senator Francis Tolentino.

(That is why we reiterate that people must prepare for strong earthquakes and possible tsunamis which is why local governments should participate in earthquake and tsunami drills.)

The secretary also said that malls and other similar enclosed spaces were dangerous during earthquakes because they were wide places and prone to damage.

“Ang mga malls kasi, ito ay mga malalapad na estruktura. Kaya may tendency silang ugain. Pero dahil ito ay malapad minsan talaga, mas malaki ang epekto sa kanila. Napansin nga natin, may mga ceiling at bubong na nagsibagsakan,” he added.

(Malls are wide structures, which is why they tend to shake, and the effects of earthquakes are wider on their scale, which is why we saw ceilings and roofs fall.)

Meanwhile, Tolentino said that engineers must inspect private buildings and other public places to check for damages and guarantee safety during disasters.

“Siguro po, Secretary, yung mga private buildings, mga malls, dapat mag-inspeksyon din kahit iyong mga local engineers para makita kung may mga damage,” Tolentino said.

(Private buildings and malls should be inspected by engineers to see if there are any damages.)

On Friday, Sarangani was rocked by a magnitude 6.8 tectonic earthquake, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.

According to the Office of Civil Defense, seven people died due to the earthquake as of Saturday.

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