Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Nobody can really predict when an earthquake will strike. So it’s best to be prepared.
That’s why the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) came up with the Metro Manila Shake Drill.
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Set for July 30, the drill will deal with a 6.9 and 7.2 magnitude earthquake scenarios, the expected magnitudes from the East Valley and the West Valley faults, respectively.
The metro-wide drill will be held in the morning and will last for an hour starting at 10:30 a.m.
Pasig City will also conduct its own drill, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at its central business district.
In its website, the MMDA explained the value of the drill: “This will increase the metro’s chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of earthquakes.”
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Some 931,536 individuals or 1,880 organizations are participating in the drill.
These people represent various sectors: schools, businesses, government agencies, and religious organizations.
The drill would allow them to test and assess their existing emergency preparedness plans.
The MMDA also offers earthquake preparedness guides in its website, which includes suggested in-house drills that institutions may choose to implement.
Different scenarios
On the day of the drill, Metro Manila will be divided into four quadrants with each quadrant having a designated scenario and evacuation site.
Look: Barangays that lie along the Valley Fault Sytem
The MMDA said fire, search and rescue, transport of patients to hospitals, and cadaver management scenarios will be implemented in the western quadrant. It is composed of Navotas, Malabon, and Manila.
The designated evacuation site is at the Intramuros Golf Course.
‘ ’17’:
The northern quadrant, composed of Quezon City, Caloocan, Valenzuela, San Juan, and Mandaluyong, will handle the evacuation of 1,500 residents and the treatment of 100 disaster victims.
Two evacuation sites were identified for this quadrant: Veterans Memorial Medical Center Golf Course and the University of the Philippines Diliman Campus.
‘ ’21’:
The eastern quadrant, composed of Marikina and Pasig, was proposed to deal with fallen structures, while identified evacuation sites were the LRT 2 Santolan Depot, Marikina Boys Town, and ULTRA in Pasig
‘ ’23’:
The southern quadrant, composed of Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Pateros, and Taguig, will handle scenarios of the Skyway collapsing, a car falling, extricating five passengers inside a car, and vehicular fire.
The evacuation site for this quadrant is the Villamor Golf Course.
‘ ’27’:
The Armed Forces of the Philippines will secure the convergence points for the whole activity, according to the MMDA.
It added that although evacuation areas were identified, participants could proceed to the nearest evacuation area in the barangay.
Related: Bracing for the big one: Is Metro Manila quake-ready?
Meanwhile, the key people from participating government agencies will be directing the execution of the drill from the command post in Camp Aguinaldo or at the MMDA Metro Base.
CNN Philippines’ Pia Bonalos contributed to this report.
