The Metro Manila Development Authority on Thursday discussed with community leaders the government’s contigency plans in the event a powerful earthquake hit Metro Manila.
joins villagers during a forum on earthquake preparedness. Manny Palmero
“We are here to create a doable action. We’ll be certain as we exit the doors, we’ve made a concrete plan in the event an earthquake hits,” said Francis Tolentino, MMDA chairman, in a forum with leaders of 84 villages of different parts of Metro Manila.
Dubbed as “Kaalaman sa Paghahanda sa Lindol”, the forum held at the MMDA Central Office in Makati City, focused on the precautions and necessary actions to be taken in order to survive when the Valley Fault System moves.
The participating village officials represent the barangays identified by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) as areas in the National Capital Region to be severely affected by the quake.
“We are not here to provoke fear, nor are we here to just give awareness; We are here to unite. We can’t go against an earthquake, but if we work as one, we can do so much to save many. We can do so much, what you can do as barangay officials is to disseminate information to your people,” Tolentino told the officials.
MMDA Flood Control Information Center chief Ramon Santiago also participated in the discussion and stressed the significance of community-level preparedness.
“It’s important that help begin from the barangays,” said Santiago, who discussed the actions already taken by the agency such as risk assessment of identified areas, necessary tools for rescue missions and rescue training.
He said in case tragedy hits, Metro Manila will be divided into four quadrants.
“The tools, kits and other necessities will be stored in each of the four quadrants, so this is where help will begin, affected areas won’t have to go through the national government, or other agencies,” Santiago said.
He also reminded that schools situated on the fault line must be vacated, and emphasized on the importance of the structures of buildings.
The government will use at least three golf courses as evacuation centers in the National Capital Region in the event of a big quake.
The Villamor Golf Club in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Intramuros Golf Club in Manila and the Veterans Memorial Medical Center Golf Club in Quezon City were identified by the MMDA as evacuation centers.
The golf courses will also be used as relief distribution hub, trauma centers, mobile hospitals, training and command post based on the agreement made by the agency and the management of the golf courses.
The forum follows the launching of the Valley Fault System (VFS) Atlas, a handbook detailing the affected areas with assigned legends indicating particular situations that may occur should the earthquake hits.
Ishmael Narag, Phivolcs officer-in-charge, urged local government units to have their own copy of the VFS Atlas and coordinate with specialists for the earthquake contigency readiness.
In another development, Education Secretary Armin Luistro inspected school buildings situated within the buffer zone of the West Valley Fault.
Luistro visited the Pedro Diaz High School, Buli Elementary School, and Alabang Elementary School in Muntinlupa City.
The three school buildings of Buli Elementary School will no longer be utilized as these may collapse anytime when the fault moves.
Meanwhile, the Alabang Elementary School will start its classes on June 1 because the school building located along the faultline was already destroyed.
DepEd Assistant Secretary for Planning Jess Mateo advised all public schools nationwide to conduct quarterly earthquake drills, especially on schools along earthquake fault zones, at the start of the schools year. He also instructed school principals to prepare for the leadership needed in case a powerful earthquake hits Metro Manila.
Other schools built near or on top of the West Valley Fault are Sitio Karahume Elementary School in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan province; Barangka Elementary School in Marikina; Tibagan Elementary School in Makati; and Anne-Claire Montessori in Taguig City. The Valley Fault System is composed of two segments: the East Valley Fault running through Rizal, and the West Valley Fault, running through Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, and Laguna. With John Paolo Bencito