Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) met with mall operators on Thursday morning (July 2) to discuss the metrowide earthquake drill set on July 30.
According to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, malls have a responsibility to keep their customers safe.
Related: MMDA confirms metrowide quake drill on July 30
Tolentino required the malls to sign up at the website metromanilashakedrill.com where they can identify point persons who will lead the drills and their expected number of participants.
They were also directed to issue a memo for their personnel and inform customers about the drill — which will start at 10:30 a.m. — through various advertising media.
The memo and ads should include the date and time of the drill; the roles of the management, security personnel, staff, and patrons will take; and instructions on how to properly drop, cover and hold.
Tolentino said that ushers should be assigned to lead customers to identified evacuation areas in the vicinity.
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Safe zones, where everyone could stay until the shaking subsides, should also be identified.
So far, over 140 organizations have signed up on the website to participate in the drill.
Some of the malls say that aside from the drills, they do other preparations on their own such as checking the structural integrity of their establishments.
