Central Visayas Shares Earthquake Preparedness, Response Best Practices to NCR

The Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) recently met with key officials of Bohol and Cebu for knowledge sharing on disaster preparedness and response, particularly during an earthquake.

Dubbed as Metro Manila-Central Visayas Shake-Share, the activity brought together Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (DRRMOs) of NCR, Bohol and Cebu for knowledge exchange to intensify preparations in Greater Metro Manila Area and nearby provinces in line with the possible movement of the West Valley Fault that may cause a 7.2 earthquake or the Big One.

Central Visayas was jolted by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013, with Bohol as its epicenter. Bohol and Cebu are the provinces greatly affected by the quake where casualties and massive damages in infrastructure were recorded in the said provinces.

Agencies that compose the MMDRRMC Technical Working Group for the Finalization of the LGUs’ Contingency Plans for Earthquake. These include the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-NCR), Department of Education (DepEd-NCR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-NCR), Joint Task Force (JTF-NCR), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-NCR).

Central Visayas DRRMC Director Concepcion Ornopia, and DILG-Region VII DRRM Focal Person James Andrew Andaya along with Cebu City DRRMO Chief for Operations Harold Alcontin, Mandaue City DRRM Officer Jay Basubas, Tagbilaran City DRRM Officer Gerard Lavadia, and Bohol PDRRM Officer Anthony Damalerio served as resource speakers and shared their DRRM best practices on earthquake preparedness and response and recommendations from their learnings in the 2013 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

Participants were also given the opportunity to visit various rehabilitated infrastructures and restored historical sites in Bohol and Cebu. Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto, Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap, and Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing welcomed the MMDRRMC Delegates as they visited each LGU’s operations center. (PIA-NCR with reports from DILG-NCR)