#MMQUAKEDRILL: NCR makes first step toward culture of preparedness

AT 10:30 a.m., alarms were sounded in Paranaque City, signaling the mock metro-wide 7.2 earthquake that was supposedly triggered by the West Valley Fault. It lasted 45 seconds.

A command center of the lead agency Metropolitan Manila Development Authority was set up at the Aseana. Officials led by MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Renato Solidum demonstrated the “duck, cover and hold” which must be done during earthquakes.

There was chaos. Communication lines were down. Fire broke out in several areas. There were looting incidents. Water pipes were broken. The city was at a standstill.

The drill was aimed to test the city’s preparedness. The West Valley Fault moves every 400 years and the last was in 1968. The next could happen in our lifetime, Solidum has repeatedly said.

Fire trucks, medical and rescue teams were swift in their response during the quake. A site for cadavers was also set up nearby the command post.

“This is historic. This is the first time for a citywide drill and it was also the first time the international community was included. There was a big number of military participants, as well as business sectors and even the church. Everyone was aware and this is successful and historic,” Tolentino said after the drill.

Thursday’s drill was the biggest earthquake drill in Metro Manila. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council held four large drills in the past year in all sections of the metropolis.

Metro Manila has a population of  12 million people. According to a study in 2004 by the Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), a 7.2 magnitude earthquake could kill at least 34,000 people and injure at least 100,000 people.

But if the real quake happens, would the government be as quick with its response?

“That’s why we are practicing it. No matter what happens, we will ensure the lines of communication are open. And the nearby areas like the military’s Northern Luzon Command [Tarlac] and Southern Luzon Command [Quezon] won’t be affected then. They will be here to help,” Tolentino said.

“We can learn from these drills to do tests…Participants would know if they did mistakes or not. For those observing what they can do on their own,” Solidum said.

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

The nearby provinces were not included in the drill and Tolentino said they are looking into including them next time.

“For now we will send them the lessons we learned. We are grateful that the provinces of Bulacan and Rizal also sent out their rescue teams,” he said.

Large drills like these must be done once a year so it will not lose momentum.

“I’ve been talking about this scenario since 2004 and this is the first time we have this drill. It will not happen without the increased awareness of the people. I would like to say that if we make people aware and realize that all will be victims, they will increase awareness,” Solidum said.

RELATED VIDEOS