BACOOR, Cavite—At least 24 local government units and private establishments in Cavite province participated in Wednesday’s Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Strike Gymnasium on Molino Boulevard in Bacoor served as the ceremonial “base area” of the drill, while Cavite’s other cities—Dasmariňas, Imus, Cavite City, Trece Martires, Tagaytay and General Trias—also conducted drills.
The province practiced the NDRRMC’s Duck, Cover and Hold for Safety program as it built awareness for the possible incident. The program aims to improve the people’s preparedness especially of the anticipated “Big One” earthquake.
The third-quarter nationwide drill was originally scheduled for Sept. 21, but the national government opted to move the exercise to Sept. 27, after the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte of a National Day of Protest.
In Noveleta town, Mayor Dino Reyes Chua and local disaster group chief Jeg Alix led residents in an earthquake scenario simulation in all public schools and government offices, while coordinating also with private companies on their version of the safety drills.
In General Trias, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Hernando Olimpo led the monitoring of drills in the city, specially the strategic evacuation areas. Other city employees were deployed as observers of the drills in industrial parks and companies, to check if they are complying with the NDRRMC memorandum.