PAGADIAN
CITY, December 17 (PIA) –- The Office of Civil Defense, Regional
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) IX in partnership with the
Department of Education (DepEd), Pagadian City will conduct the CY 2012 4th
Quarter Simultaneous School-Based Tsunami and Earthquake Drill on
Wednesday, December 19.
OCD-9 Regional
Director Adriano D. Fuego said the activity endeavors to promote disaster preparedness,
mitigation and awareness of the community especially among students and
teachers. “It also aims to assess the capacity level of the schools during the
event of earthquakes and other disasters,” Fuego added.
During the
activity, the OCD-RDRRMC and evaluators from different agencies will observe
and evaluate the conduct of the said drill at Santiago Elementary School ,
this city.
Pursuant to
Republic Act (RA) 1012, preparedness and mitigation are key strategies in
reducing disaster risk.
Fuego said
challenging activities such as tsunami evacuation, fire after the earthquake,
blockage of identified evacuation route which will be specific to the school
situation will be performed by the students.
As contained
in DepEd Order No. 84, series of 2012 issued by Secretary Armin Luistro, all bureau and regional directors, schools division and city superintendents,
heads of public and private elementary and secondary schools were directed to
actively participate in the drill and to submit a consolidated report to the
DRRMC, central office.
It can be
recalled that 36 years ago, people in Pagadian City
were horrified by the destruction of a tsunami wrought by a 7.5 intensity
earthquake on August 17, 1976 causing hundreds of death and millions of properties damaged. (ALT/GCC/PIA,Pagadian City )