STUDENTS and teachers in Davao City actively participated in nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill, which was held within scenarios, at the University of Mindanao-Bolton Campus on Thursday, June 29.
After the siren, which was heard around 2 p.m., some of the teachers and students, in a duck, cover, and hold position, went out of the building.
Senior vice president of University of Mindanao Bobet Castillo said that the school accepted the invitation for the National Earthquake Drill which became the area of the seven scenarios.
“With regards to the participation of employees, I would like to commend our employees for a very fast reaction to the scenarios given to us, so far I am more than satisfied with the drill,” he said.
Maja Castillon and Renelyn Nacilo-an, both students who observed the drill outside their campus, said that conducting drills are very important.
“Importante nga mag-drill a para kabalo unsa buhaton kung unsa ang mahitabo, kung mga ingon ani man gud nga situaton kung wala ta'y knowledge, maratol man gud ta (Having drills are important for us to know what we will do if we have situations like this), if such situation happens and we will have no idea what to do, we may panic,” she said.
Nacilo-an also added that with the equipment and the scenarios given, she can attest that the city is ready for earthquake.
“Ready jud sila unsa ang buhaton (They are really ready on what to do),” he said
Central 911 chair Emmanuel Jaldon said the exercise shows the capacity of the city despite not being able to use all disaster equipment.
The final assessment of the drill will be done by different evaluators this week and will be released soon.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Renato Solidum Jr. said the drill is a form of preparation to prevent fatalities and injuries through proper emergency response.
Solidum said that big earthquakes can hit Davao City anytime due to the existing active fault lines that is part of the Central Davao Fault System, particularly 7.1 kilometers away from this place University of Mindanao Bolton.
“Ang aming estimate kung gumalaw ito ng (our estimate if this moves is) magnitude 7, ang pagyanig ay (the tremor is at) intensity 8. Kung sakaling mangyari ito, at walang gagawin, nakita namin possibleng (If this will happen and did nothing, there a possible) 280,000 estimated, slight to complete, damage ang bahay at buildings dito sa (of houses and buildings in) Davao City,” he said.
“Kung sakaling ito ay dumating ay ito ay (If this will happen) potentially 1,600 ang fatality, and ang injury from slight to fatal ay (is) 30,000 kung makikita niyo malaking numero ito (this is a big number),” he said.
Solidum said that to reduce the damage to buildings in the city, these should be properly checked. (KVC)