The Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is now preparing scenarios in connection with the scheduled metrowide earthquake drill this month.
Among the scenarios to be simulated during the July 27 drill include disruption of water, power and communication, building evacuation, administering first aid to injured victims, fire manipulation and saving trapped victims, among others.
“Injected scenarios will serve as evaluation tools. We will make them as close to reality as possible,” said Michael Salalima, chief-of-staff of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Salalima urged MMDRRMC officers to convince the private sector and non-governmental organizations in their areas of jurisdiction to test their night-time capabilities when disasters strike during the drill.
“Following MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim’s directive, this is going to be multi-sectoral, multi-level and a regional-wide activity. For the first time, we will be counting on the increased participation of the private sector,” said Salalima during the MMDRRMC meeting held at the MMDA headquarters Tuesday.
To prepare Metro Manila for any eventuality, pre-agreed scenarios and rehearsal plans to simulate a powerful earthquake with partner government agencies will be enacted.
Quadrant commanders of the four sectors—North, East, West and South—would start from scratch in setting up staging areas in their respective places of assignments as personnel and equipment will no longer be pre-positioned.
This will test the MMDA, concerned government agencies and local government units’ execution of their contingency plans. For private groups, this will allow them to test their business continuity capabilities in times of disasters.
The MMDA official said they had asked the participation of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and National Resilience Council to urge their member businesses to participate in the drill.
According to studies, there will be more casualties during the evening when everyone’s mostly at home than daytime when mostly are in the offices and schools.
The drill will begin on July 27 at 4 am with an earthquake alarm that will trigger the start of the activity.