The Metro Manila Development Authority will conduct “Metro Shake” drills in several subdivisions identified as vulnerable to a powerful earthquake.
This developed shortly after the agency received formal request from various groups for training on earthquake management, preparedness and disaster response trainings.
The agency will bring its so-called “Mobile Earthquake House” to the subdivisions in order to allow residents to experience a simulated earthquake.
“Although we have mobile earthquake house to use, we can’t do the drill simultaneously so it should be one at a time,” said MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.
“We are happy to note the patriotism of our people. The overwhelming response from potential volunteers shows that we Filipinos are indeed compassionate people,” Tolentino said.
For the last two years now, more than 2,000 individuals have already undergone the MMDA disaster response training and are already considered members of the Task Force Yakal, composed of the MMDA’s 6,000-strong workforce who were trained as rescue volunteers.
Tolentino said volunteers will be clustered according to their skills so that they know what duties they will perform.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology earlier came up with the Valley Fault System Atlas, a handbook of large scale maps showing in detail areas traversed by the Valley Fault System, which was distributed to local government officials in preparation for the “Big One”, a phrase used to describe the gigantic earthquake.
It warned the public of a massive quake if the Valley Fault System moves. The system is comprised of the 10-kilometer East Valley Fault in Rizal, and the 100-kilometer West Valley Fault, which passes through six Metro Manila cities and parts of the Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal provinces.
The warning came following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25.
Authorities said the West Valley Fault can generate a large earthquake with 7.2 magnitude which poses threat to peoples lives, buildings and infrastructures, and livelihood.
To cushion the impact of a big tremor, the city government is planning, among others, to disseminate information in the communities affected by the fault line, inspect and ensure the structural integrity of buildings and establishments, modify or prohibit construction and development in the areas and lay down contingency plans which include trainings and drills for the identified communities.