ROXAS City – A series of earthquake orientation and drills are being conducted in Capiz to prepare the residents for the real event.
“We need to prepare everyone on how to respond during and after earthquake events, the reason why we are conducting earthquake drills,” said Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Judy Grace Pelaez.
She explained that through the regular conduct of earthquake simulation exercises, everyone will instill in their minds the appropriate things to do and not panic.
From January to October this year, 17 earthquake orientation and lectures were conducted with nearly 8,000 participants thereto.
“We were able to conduct 20 earthquake drills so far this year with nearly 26,000 participants in the entire province of Capiz,” Pelaez said.
She added that these exercises, which were in partnership with various agencies, were done in public and private schools, offices, hospitals as well as in barangays, malls, and other establishments.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology-Capiz head engineer Reynaldo Antioquia lauded the PDRRMO here for intensifying the conduct of earthquake orientation and simulation drills for public awareness and preparedness.
Antioquia said the collaboration of various agencies here with the PDRRMO has helped in reaching many areas in the province for earthquake orientation and drills.
“These simulation exercises will greatly help Capiceños to be prepared and resilient whenever disasters hit us,” he said.
The PDRRMO, with its organized Speaker’s Bureau with members from the different agencies here, has led the conduct of orientation and simulation exercises on earthquake, fire, storm surge, typhoon and flood for years. (PIA/PN)
