BY HONNIE LET B. COQUILLA, CHINKEE A. JUGALBOT, AND ALYANNA L. ORBITA/DSSC INTERNS
A FULL-SCALE shakeout drill is scheduled on July 26, stimulating an earthquake scenario or tsunami to assess the readiness of the local government and rescue units to respond to emergencies.
The earthquake drill will run at 9 a.m. Five minutes later, a siren and church bell will signal the start of the tsunami drill.
In a GMA News Online report, PHILVOCS director Teresito Bacolcol was quoted as saying that the country is vulnerable to shaking with a magnitude of intensity 8 or stronger.
During the launch of Earthquake Model Atlas in September 2019, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. also warned of the “big one” in Davao City due to numerous faultlines.
Lyndon Ancajas, City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office training head, expects about 5,000 participants for the shakeout drill. He said they will assess the capabilities of the rescuers on first aid, CPR, and emergency response.
The CDRRMO will hand out certificates of participation to the participants to recognize their cooperation.
