By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - The Dipolog City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has recently conducted an earthquake drill at the Dipolog Pilot Demonstration School (DPDS), one of the most densely populated public elementary schools here.
Teachers and pupils of said school converged Wednesday morning to participate in the said activity.
Atty. Cyril Ruiz, city councilor and CDRRMO action officer said the undertaking was in compliance with the memorandum issued by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council(NDRRMC) directing all disaster councils throughout the country to conduct the 2014 first quarter national simultaneous earthquake drill.
Ruiz said “the earthquake drill aimed to instill awareness and preparedness among the pupils and faculty staff of the school to appropriately react in times of the occurrence of earthquake and other disaster.”
During the post-drill evaluation, Ruiz stressed the need of every school to have an emergency plan not only for earthquake but for all kinds of calamity. The participants have also agreed to hold an in-depth planning on disaster preparation.
Joining CDRRMO in the conduct of the drill are the national government agencies based in the city like Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) headed by Engr. Florenette Garcia, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Dipolog led by Lerma Campaner, City Fire Marshall Richard Timosa, SPO4 Sotico Calago of Dipolog City Police Office, DPDS Principal Gina Regencia, Dipolog SPED Center Principal Georgina Cielo, teachers and CDRRMO personnel.