THE Office of Civil Defense in Davao Region (OCD-Davao) will lead the second quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for 2025 on June 19 in Barangay Libuganon, Tagum City.
OCD-Davao Regional Director Ednar Dayanghirang said the drill site presents greater logistical and operational challenges compared to the previous exercise held in Digos City, as the designated evacuation center is located seven kilometers away.
“Imagine the need for community participation, logistics requirements, and the others, but everything is now in the final stage,” he said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw, on Monday morning, June 16, 2025, at SM City Davao.
Dayanghirang added that the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) will be supported by 48 national agencies, 54 LGUs across cities and provinces, and private sector partners in the region.
He said that Barangay Libuganon, being a low-lying area, was selected due to its vulnerability not only to earthquakes but also to tsunami threats.
To boost preparedness in schools, which often serve as evacuation centers during disasters, OCD-Davao is also engaging academic institutions. Dayanghirang said they have already partnered with Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) and the University of Mindanao (UM), and are working to coordinate with Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) for future drills.
“Sila gyud ang highly exposed in terms of maging possible victims of earthquake disasters, that's why we would like to focus didto pod (They are highly exposed and at risk of becoming potential victims of earthquake disasters — that’s why we want to focus on preparedness efforts there),” he said.
The first quarter NSED was conducted on March 13, 2025, and saw participation from various government offices, private organizations, and educational institutions. Participants practiced standard emergency responses such as “duck, cover, and hold” and executed evacuation drills. RGP