Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The number of volunteers for the Metro Manila shake drill on Thursday (July 30) is nearing the one million mark, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino.
The earthquake drill will simulate a 7.2-magnitude quake, which will commence at 10:30 a.m.
“I’ve been saying ever since that this cannot be accomplished without the help of all sectors. I’m particularly referring to the 8,000 volunteers that I asked prior to the preparation of this drill. But last night I got 931,000 volunteers,” Tolentino said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Wednesday.
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Last June 1, the MMDA called for 8,000 able-bodied men and women to form the Metro Manila Rescue Volunteer Corps (MMRVC). Volunteers were asked to register through the Be Prepared Metro Manila website (www.bepreparedmetromanila.com).
According to Tolentino, radio broadcasts and public announcement systems featuring ‘roaring and thundering sounds of earthquake’ will signify the start of the hour-long drill on Thursday.
“All cellphone units will receive a text message that the drill is about to commence. You’ll be seeing helicopters hovering around Metro Manila and a lot of sirens from Bureau Fire Protection and private fire fighters so this will be a synchronized, simultaneous, 10:30 a.m. drill,” added Tolentino.
Aside from the scheduled morning drill, Pasig, Ortigas will stimulate a night time “blackout” scenario, which will run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
‘Drop, cover, hold’
Government agencies, schools and local businesses in Metro Manila are among the participants in the morning shake drill.
“We have ambulances. There will be high ladder exercises in Ayala Avenue, in Eastwood, and in all other areas. But even those not highlighted will [be] participating as well including barangays – all the barangays of Metro Manila, the various city halls, hospitals, malls will be big players during the drill,” explained Tolentino earlier in a separate interview.
The MMDA chairman, likewise, urged private citizens who are not part of an organization, to conduct their own household drill – even an ordinary 45-second drop, cover and hold exercise will suffice.
“I hope we can learn something from this… on how to prepare. Perhaps next year it can be done or year after next year so we will be institutionalising this. And this will form [a] part of our own national feature of preparedness.”
CNN Philippines intern Alexah Harding contributed to this report.
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