THOUSANDS of Dabawenyos are expected to join the citywide earthquake and shake out tsunami drill at 9 a.m. Friday, July 14.
"We are expecting na magulo ito kasi (that this will be chaotic since) it will involve the whole Davao City. All the schools, churches, hotels, malls will be participating and at the same time coastal barangays, and even government offices will be participating," said Lyndon Ancajas, Training Officer of City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Thursday, July 13.
He said that the activity will also implement the four citywide siren system and sirens in barangays and coastal areas.
Ancajas said that parishes will also ring bells so the exercise will be very noisy.
"During the earthquake phase, drivers are all advised to pull over on the side of the road to give way to the nag-evacuate natin na mga communities. Communities within the barangays will evacuate on foot towards their evacuation site," he said, adding that the government offices will also proceed to the alternate site of operations.
The goal of the exercise, Ancajas said, is to survive the earthquake and tsunami.
"We will set up alternate site of operations to help the people," he said.
"We will see people traversing the streets, ang mga drivers if you see people evacuating please I ask all of them not to panic, please give way for the people for it is just a drill," he said.
Ancajas advised people to bring water and umbrella to avoid exhaustion because the drill on Friday will be rain or shine.
He said all schools even in coastal areas will be participating as committed by Department of Education Schools Division and they have met with different coordinators from agency, who expressed full commitment.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, for her part, also called on the Dabawenyos to participate in the drill.
"This will help us prepare ourselves when a tsunami or an earthquake hits Davao City," the mayor said.
"It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone in our communities and our homes are aware and knowledgeable of the things that should be done in cases of emergencies," she added.
The mayor also said that being prepared is an important step in survival.
"Preparation, which involves learning or acquiring emergency skills, is critical in protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities," she said.
Around 3,000 employees of the City Government are expected to join, Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) Chief Erwin Alparaque said.
"Every building has exit points as indicated in their emergency plans," Alparaque said.
Once the alarm and the sirens are sounded, he added, the employees should start going to the evacuation areas.
The primary evacuation areas are Rizal Park and Quezon Park. However, he said, when there is a tsunami, people should evacuate to higher areas.
"I urge the Dabawenyos to be very serious during the earthquake and tsunami drill," Alparaque said.
He added, "Even the taking of photos during the mock evacuation is discouraged."
Alparaque said the Disaster Action Team members are set to undergo a series of trainings and seminars in the future on various topics including rescue and mobilization.
Ancajas said in 2015, a total of 42,000 people from public schools and selected barangays attended the drill.