The government continues to strengthen its disaster readiness campaign to prepare the people in the event the “Big One” hit the National Capital Region.
The business community and other sectors are now being encouraged to practice their earthquake preparedness plan during the metrowide shake drill set on July 27.
Metro Manila Development Authority-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management chief Michael Salalima on Friday said they also met diplomats, media men and representatives from transport groups and utility companies and discussed readiness measures should the ‘Big One’ occur, which experts believe would happen anytime.
The “Big One” is a euphemism for a major earthquake which could be higher than magnitude 8.
The 5th metrowide earthquake drill aim to prepare and inform the people about survival methods and the “do’s and dont’s” before, during and after the disaster.
“The approach in the preparation and response to disaster and emergency is all-inclusive. We are not only counting on the government to be providing all the response and preparedness measures for “The Big One” but also on the private sector and non-government organizations help us craft a preparedness and response measure for Metro Manila,” said Salalima.
With businesses open during the night drill, Salalima encouraged the business process outsourcing industry, hotels, casino and other business establishments to test their preparedness.
“This is not just a matter of going through the exercises but rather we are serious in testing, seeing and assessing the preparedness and response of units concerned in Metro Manila,” he said.
Ahead of the drill, the agency received a donation of 200 safety helmets that would help strengthen the agency’s emergency preparedness and operations from private firm C’est La Vie Event Management.
Salalima said the safety helmets will be distributed to quadrant commanders and key persons involved in the staging of earthquake scenarios during the shake drill.
Later, the safety helmets will be used by personnel conducting clearing operations.
Salalima also urged local government units to identify evacuation areas and safe havens for their constituents while barangay leaders to make communities more aware of their disaster procedures and plans.
“Households must know what to do when disaster strikes, where they will go, where to seek help,” said Salalima.
He also encouraged everyone to conduct activities such as sounding their alarms, “duck, cover and hold” exercise, evacuation, and rescue operation and carry out their disaster and risk reduction preparations.
“The threat of an earthquake is real. It is not a question if it will happen but when it will happen,” said Salalima.
The July 27 drill will start at 4 a.m. with loud signals to be set off to announce its start.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology earlier reminded the public that any active faults that have not generated any historical surface-rupturing events have higher potential to generate a large earthquake also known as “The Big One,” which can significantly affect the region and surrounding areas in the Philippines.
