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[av_heading heading=’ EDITORIAL | Planning ahead’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Saturday, May 6, 2017
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HOW many earthquakes did the Philippines experience these last two months? Perhaps over a dozen, including the aftershocks. If anything, the tremors were reminders that our country is located in the so-called earthquake belt and thus calls for heightened earthquake preparedness. No excuses here.
We never know when an earthquake will occur. But we should know what to do before, during and after the occurrence of such events. Regular safety drills should be done to familiarize citizens with safety and disaster preparedness measures. Disaster management agencies, local government units, community leaders, and even citizens should prepare for the Big One.
The key to effective disaster prevention is planning. It is important to know if our location is near an active fault and prone to liquefaction or landslide, which may cause damage to houses or buildings. We have to ensure that buildings are not standing on active faults. Evaluation and retrofitting of public and private infrastructure is crucial in ensuring that buildings, bridges and other similar structures can withstand strong quakes.
Earthquakes turn into major disasters due to unsafe structures — poorly built structures, buildings in inappropriate places, inadequate design and materials specification, and shortcuts in construction. The additional expense required for making structures safe from earthquakes is worth it especially if it would save thousands of lives.
Local governments and barangay leaders must prepare their communities especially by determining open spaces for safe refuge when earthquakes occur and crafting evacuation plans that would help citizens find out the fastest and safest way to reach open spaces and other safe areas.
We will never grow tired, too, of emphasizing the importance of an effective early warning system and massive information and education campaign to equip citizens with knowledge on what to do before, during and after such disasters. Wherever people are they must be informed of important announcements especially in emergency situations, thereby reducing risks, casualties and damages.
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