R-XI all set for National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill

DAVAO CITY, Mar 26 (PIA) All systems go for the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Davao Region.

Retired Brig. General Loreto Rirao, director of the Office of Civil Defense 11 and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the NSED is set at 9:00 am, March 27 aimed at determining the level of awareness among the residents in coping with the tremor.

He said participants of the NSED must observe the duck, cover, hold at the exact moment when the “earthquake simulation drill” occurs.

“You must whatever you are doing and observe the duck, cover and hold with primary consideration of your safety whenever there is an earthquake,” Rirao said.

He said that in Davao Region that center of the drill will be the public transport terminals.

Rirao said the local governments of the cities of Davao, Panabo and Tagum, in Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental.

“Evaluators will be sent in these areas to determine the level of awareness of the participants in handling the situation during earthquakes.  From there, we will know which areas to improve and eventually promote through our advocacy,” Rirao said.

He explained many schools under the Department of Education begged off to participate in the NSED since many of them still have to undertake their final exams.

Rirao said the DepEd 11 still sets to conduct their separate earthquake drill at a later time.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)