Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted a metro-wide shake drill on Thursday (July 30) in the hope of providing a “real-world training scenario in preparation for a possible earthquake in Metro Manila.”
A 30-second audio recording, which was followed by sirens, signaled the start of the drill. People of participating government agencies, businesses, schools, and other organizations performed the “drop, cover, hold” routine and evacuated their premises.
Metro Manila was divided into four quadrants — with each quadrant having a designated scenario and evacuation site. The drill staged different situations and accidents in order to test and assess existing emergency preparedness plans.
Was the drill effective?
According to the MMDA, the value of the drill is to “increase the metro’s chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of earthquakes.”
For Diane Penafiel-Cuasay, an employee of an IT firm in Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City, the purpose of the drill was achieved.
“I think it was effective. There were simulations – kids lost, people running, injured victims,” she said.
Quezon City is part of the northern quadrant where scenarios of evacuation and treatment of disaster victims were held.
But Penafiel-Cuasay believed “it would have been better if they required everyone.”
“Some bystanders were not taking it seriously and were just watching and taking videos,” she added. “Some establishments were business as usual.”
Meanwhile, PJ Canapi, who works in Makati, also believed the quake drill was successful.
“Coming from a populated area in Salcedo, Makati, this drill will be useful in case a quake happens,” said Canapi.
Six cities — Makati, Pasay, Taguig, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque,— and the town of Pateros — made up the southern quadrant, where highway and vehicular accidents were simulated.
For Canapi, though, in the event another quake drill will be staged, people need to be properly informed so they can actively participate in such exercises.
