NCR-wide Earthquake Drill Successful – MMDA

(PIA) — The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday led the successful conduct of the metro-wide earthquake drill to test the government and public preparedness in case the dreaded “Big One” or the 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits the metropolis.

The simultaneous “Metro Manila Shake Drill” was conducted for more than an hour in 16 cities and one municipality of the National Capital Region (NCR).

At the ASEANA open field on Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City, the command center and mass burial site were set up.

During the drill, Metro Manila was divided into four quadrants: north, south, east, west for a more organized response and rescue operations.

The north sector, covering the cities of Quezon, Mandaluyong and San Juan, depicted a medical scenario at the Veterans Golf Course.

The west sector, covering the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and Manila, staged a fire scenario at the Intramuros Golf Course.

The east sector, covering cities of Pasig and Marikina, will simulate collapsed structure scenario.

The south sector, covering cities of Taguig, Pateros, Paranaque, Pasay, Las Piñas, Makati, and Muntinlupa, conducted a mock debris cleaning scenario.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the quake drill is “scientifically-based” on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), a study conducted by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Japan International Cooperation where an estimated 33,500 people will die if a 7.2 magnitude earthquake – the expected magnitude of the West Valley and East Valley Faults -hits the metropolis.

Based on the study, the cities of Manila and Quezon City will have the most casualties.

Pasig is the only LGU in Metro Manila that conducted a night time drill and held in Ortigas business district from 8 to 9 p.m.

Motorists are advised to avoid San Miguel Avenue and Julia Vargas Avenue as they will be partially closed to vehicular traffic. Alternate routes will be implemented during that time.

About 1,300 persons and several residential and office buildings are participated in the drill.

Members of Eastern Police District secured the area as power supply was cut off during the drill.

Summing it up, Tolentino said metro-wide drill has been successful.

He said that the quake drill will be held every year to create a culture of preparedness not only among the residents of Metro Manila but also in the provinces. (PIA-NCR/RJB/SDL)