GUIMARAS – To assess the disaster readiness of the school and its learners, the Guimaras Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), in coordination with the Department of Education, held an earthquake drill at Hoskyn Elementary School in the municipality of Jordan, Guimaras, on Feb. 27.
Teachers, staff and learners were taught the “drop, cover and hold” sequence of commands and the evacuation procedure that follows.
“Drop” means to go down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling but lets you move if you need to. Cover your head and neck (or your entire body, if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, cover yourself with your arms. Hold on to your shelter or position until the shaking stops. A “clear” command will be given by the disaster commander, followed by “out”, a signal for everyone to exit the building.
These commands are implemented by the national government and in other countries.
The school’s alarm marked the detection of an earthquake, and participants performed the three commands.
Barangay Hoskyn is a multi-hazard-prone area on the coastal side of the province. The village is prone to landslides, flooding, rock falls, and storm surges.
The earthquake drill was also attended by national government agencies such as the Philippine National Police, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and rescuers, among others.
On Feb. 22, the PDRRMO held the same activity at Paaralan ng Buhay ng Tando in Barangay Tando, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
Barangay Tando is a hazard-prone area, being one of the coastal barangays. It is also prone to tsunamis because it is situated near the Negros Trench, a long, narrow depression on the seafloor west of Negros Island./PN
