AN OFFICIAL of Davao region’s Office of Civil Defense (OCD 11) revealed that Barangay Mintal, which has not been struck by an earthquake, sits on top of the active fault line called Dacudao Fault Line that could trigger a destructive earthquake.
In view of this, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) chaired by OCD 11 has chosen Mintal as the site of its first quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) Wednesday, February 21, to raise awareness on how to respond to the disaster should it occur.
OCD 11 information officer Leslie Francisco said Tuesday, February 19, that there is no technology that could predict an impending earthquake.
“According to Phivolcs kung wala daw history ng minor quakes ang fault line mas delikado kung molinog. Mura ra daw na og kanang tao nga naghilom-hilom ra gani bisan nasuko unya kung mobuto na kay grabe (According to Phivolcs, if there is no history of minor quakes in the fault line it means it’s more dangerous when it moves),” Francisco said.
Mintal, an emerging business and residential hub situated in the southwestern portion of Davao City, is considered one of the fast growing areas. It has a population of about 15,000.
“Unfortunately, the barangay also sits on the Dacudao Fault System, which is identified by the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) as an active fault line that could trigger a destructive earthquake in Davao City,” Francisco said.
The earthquake drill will be held on Thursday, February 21, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The program will start with drill evaluators briefing at Barangay Gymnasium, program proper, deployment of drill evaluators, earthquake drill and post-evaluation meeting.
On the site map, the organizing committee has identified evacuation sites where the affected residents could go for a safer location in case of an earthquake.
These are the Mintal Central Elementary School and Mintal Comprehensive National High School grounds; national highway fronting Holy Cross of Mintal; Holy Spirit Medical Center grounds; National Power Corporation grounds; barangay road outside of Purok 13 and barangay road outside of Purok 14.