INFORMATION BLITZ: Paalala sa mga OFW-members ng PhilHealth: Ang PhilHealth membership and contribution ay MANDATORY ayon sa batas kaya magpamiyembro at magbayad ng kontribusyon bago umalis ng bansa. Seguraduhin ang proteksyon ng kalusugan ng iyong sarili at pamilya.

Monday, December 17, 2012

OCD, DepEd to conduct simultaneous school-based tsunami and earthquake drill

By Gideon C. Corgue

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