A total of 1,300 local government units (LGUs) together with organizations from the public and private sectors joined the first National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for 2025, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday.
A ceremonial event was held in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, showcasing the preparedness of the city, neighboring LGUs, and the regional disaster risk reduction and management council (RDRRMC) in Calabarzon.
The drill emphasized widespread involvement, engaging stakeholders such as special education schools, Laguna Technopark, Inc., Enchanted Kingdom, Angkas, and the Armed Forces reserve force.
The full-scale exercise featured various scenarios, including aerial damage assessments, hazardous materials response, and collapsed structure search-and-rescue operations.
“We put a lot of budget in our disaster reduction management programs. Right now, we have almost P350 million for that alone, and our QRF (quick response fund) is around P94 million,” said Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas.
OCD said the exercise aims to enhance preparedness for seismic activities, particularly with the looming threat of the Big One or a catastrophic earthquake.
Civil Defense Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized the importance of rigorous earthquake preparedness, stricter building regulations, and public participation in regular drills.
They called for a “whole-of-government” approach and greater community involvement to save lives.
Other officials, including those from National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) echoed this statement.
They underscored the need for continuous improvement, resilience-building, and identifying gaps through these exercises. Disaster preparedness also plays a role in recognizing LGUs for good governance.