AN 8.2 earthquake scenario will be simulated in Davao City on July 14 for the first city-wide earthquake and tsunami drill.
Lyndon Ancajas, Training Officer of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), in Thursday's edition of the I-Speak weekly media forum, said that the purpose of the city-wide drill is to lessen the dependence of the people to response teams in the wake of any emergency situation caused by natural calamities.
"We will create a scenario, how will Davao city react, everything should not be dependent on the government," he said.
Ancajas said that the shake-out drill will include the participation of government responders, Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Central 911, community, students, parishes.
He said that during the actual earthquake, vehicles in tsunami-prone areas will be asked to stop and stay on the side of the road since tsunami really requires mass exodus of people to higher ground.
"Tanang tao magbaktas lang aside sa government response vehicles (Everyone will walk, and only government response vehicle will roam around)," he said
He added that they do expect perfection on the drill since they believe that it will be better to identify rooms of growth to practice in the actual scenario.
Those who will be evacuating for tsunami will be asked to go to higher areas or to tall buildings.
He said they have already asked for the cooperation of the schools.
"Sa schools wala na kaayo mi naglisud, they will conduct earthquake drill give them the time scenario, sila na ang mag-comply (It's easier in schools, they can comply)," he said.
He added that in each school, persons in Disaster Action Team will observe the drill.
Ancajas said that each establishment in Davao City is required to have a Disaster Action team, and they will be the one who will check the smooth flow of the drill.
He said that students will basically move out from their classrooms and after their drop cover and hold, they will go to open ground, the difference with the tsunami-prone areas that the students will be required to move to higher ground.
Ancajas said Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio pushes for the city-wide drill after five or six active faults were recently discovered in the city based on the report relayed to them by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs).
The areas with active fault lines include Tamugan, Dacudao, Lacson and New Carmen.