NDRRMC reviews quake plan ahead of metro-wide drill

By: Frances Mangosing - 9 years ago

DAYS before the metro-wide earthquake drill, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council held tabletop exercises at Camp Aguinaldo to test anew its earthquake preparedness.

“All of our inputs [from previous earthquake drills] were used in this simulation. It is important that we focus on the four quadrant exercises to test the ability of our responders based on our formula,” NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama told reporters on Tuesday.

The tabletop exercises will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The NDRRMC held four earthquake drills in each quadrant/division of Metro Manila since last year. The first was on Roxas Boulevard for west quadrant, Quezon City Circle for north quadrant, Marikina City for east quadrant and Bonifacio Global City for south quadrant.

All the drills had a scenario of 7.2-magnitude earthquake when the West Valley Fault supposedly moves, and was based on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study in 2004. The study also said at least 37,000 might die if such magnitude hits Metro Manila.

READ: Study: 37,000 may die if 7.2 quake would hit Metro Manila

The West Valley Fault runs through different cities and towns of Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna.

Pama said the tabletop exercises are a culmination of the four major drills in the past.

“This activity is to validate the preparations we have made and if it matches the earthquake plan of the Metro Manila Development Authority. If there are shortcomings then we will look for ways for them to improve the MMDA quake drill,” he said.

Several directors from the regional office of civil defense were also present at the two-day activity.

“The regional directors from Ilocos, Cordillera, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao are here. They have designated quadrants to which they would assist in disaster management,” Pama said.

The MMDA earthquake drill that will be held on Thursday eyes six million participants. Hundreds of organizations including public and private schools and universities will join the drill while businesses and transport groups have signified to join the activity.