ILOILO City successfully conducted as pilot site the 2019 First Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) held February 21.

This was the assessment of Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Western Visayas director Jose Roberto Nuñez and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Dr. Renato Solidum.

“It was 100 percent successful because we have seen that all agencies participated especially the City Government, responders, and people of Iloilo City on how to prepare against disaster,” Nuñez said.

The drill was simulated in City Hall, schools West Visayas State University-La Paz and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo; Barangays Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte, and Calaparan in Arevalo; Iloilo Mission Hospital; SM City-Iloilo; Iloilo Business Park (Megaworld); and all public schools wherein the scenario involved an 8.2 magnitude quake.

Each impact area demonstrated their actions during and after the drill in which Solidum commended the people who participated seriously.

“I am very happy with the drill, in fact, it feels like I was watching a movie,” Solidum said.

He commended the city government for taking the challenge in leading the drill, especially that a destructive earthquake might occur in the metropolis just like the 1948 Lady Caycay considered as the second strongest in the country.

Solidum said the drill aimed to see the preparedness of local government units (LGUs) during disaster, and it is important for the people in the community to be informed of hazards and risks.

“Disaster risk reduction is not a sole job of the government, it should be our responsibility, too, as members of the community,” the OCS official added. (PR)