PH holds 3rd earthquake drill for 2024

The Third Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill 2024 was conducted in different parts of the country on Thursday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

For this quarter’s earthquake drill, the OCD said the exercise aims to test key aspects of the enhanced Harmonized National Contingency Plan (HNCP) for “The Big One” or possible magnitude 7.2 earthquake in the Greater Metro Manila Area that may be triggered by a movement in the West Valley Fault.

“Its goal is to evaluate the updated or enhanced elements designed to improve the harmonized mobilization of government resources in the event of a devastating earthquake,” the OCD said.

“The exercise will also identify key areas of clarity or ambiguity, consistency or inconsistencies, strengths, and weaknesses of the HNCP,” it added.

As a cue for the start of the drill, government officials pressed a button in a ceremony at a hotel in Pasig City.

Participants carried out the Duck, Cover, and Hold postures. A tabletop exercise was also conducted.

“Ang importante, tuwing pupunta kayo sa isang lugar, alam nyo kung saan kayong magda-Duck, Cover, and Hold in the first place,” OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said.

(The important thing is, every time you go to a place, you know where to duck, cover, and hold in the first place.)

“Kapag ginawa kasi yan, duck, cover and hold, unang-una, para makuha mo yung balance mo kasi kapag ginawa mo yun, yung posibilidad na matumba ka o magpagulong-gulong ka, maiwasan. Dahil pag ikaw ay natumba, or out of control, natumba ka lang basta, mawawalan ka na ng control sa kapaligiran mo, yung posibilidad na mabagsakan ka,” he added.

(You do the Duck, Cover and Hold, first, to get your balance because when you do that you can prevent yourself from falling or rolling on the ground. Because if you fall, you will lose control of your environment, some debris may fall on you.) --Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News