Next metro-wide shake drill to be held early hours of July 27 — MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Metro Manila may have to be on extra alert in the early hours of Saturday, July 27 as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to conduct another metro-wide earthquake drill that day.

“It’s a night time drill, sabi ko nga kasi an earthquake may occur anytime,” MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said in a press conference Thursday, as he announced that the next earthquake drill is scheduled to happen at 4 a.m. that day.

Why conduct an earthquake drill at 4 a.m. on a weekend? Garcia answered: “May consideration din tayo, di natin ginawang weekday kasi may trabaho ang tao.”

“Kinakabahan kami pag ang earthquake nangyari ng madaling araw kasi nga ‘yan yung [oras] na sa bahay lang [ang mga tao],” the MMDA official said.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) published in 2004, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in the West Valley Fault—which runs through some cities in Metro Manila—could result in the death of 34,000 people and the collapse of 170,000 residential houses.

READ: The Big One could kill 34,000

Garcia added that he expects to achieve “full participation” of both the private sectors and local government units on the planned shake drill.
The MMDA will be on “full alert” for 24 hours that day, and some officials will roam around Metro Manila to observe how residents participated in the drill. /je