Employees of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office covered their heads while exiting the building during an emergency earthquake drill on August 4, 2014.

    Such drill, initiated in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), was to engage offices to visualize possible scenarios, rehearse frightening events in a less threatening environment, encourage dialogue that might otherwise be avoided, showcase institutional , and constituent support for increased disaster preparedness.

   Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil in his message underscored the necessity of such drill in the office to have an immediate emergency response when it comes to unprecedented situation such as earthquake and besides the DILG is the vice chair in disaster preparedness.

 

   “This activity is very significant for our sake and the lessons we learned here are also applicable to the members of our family. We will help them how to prepare in case there will be occurrences of disaster such as earthquake.” RD Abutazil added.

 

   Likewise, Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Regional Focal Person Teresita Catalbas emphasized that minimizing the impacts of this known and expected hazards and preventing disasters depends upon exercising and acting upon our collective learning and imagination.

   “We cannot stop natural disasters but we can arm ourselves with knowledge. So many lives wouldn’t have to be lost if there was enough disaster preparedness. What we do now will determine what our lives will be like afterwards.” she added.

   Series of informative discussions oriented and enlightened the participants on Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, Understanding Earthquake, and Building Emergency Evacuation Plan which were discussed by Chief Operations Division of OCD IX, Angelito R. Casinillo, Pagadian City Area Coordinator Kornessa L. Paras and Mark Anthony V. Almeda respectively.

   Highlighted part was the conduct of actual earthquake drill where each personnel from their respective division exited from the building doing the duck, cover and hold.

   In an observation and onsite watching, OCD IX facilitators commented on the following unsafe practices such as the improperly secured cabinets and lockers that were placed either beside the exits or in the evacuation routes and lack of signages for exit.

 

   On the conduct of the drill, they also advised the participants while exiting the building to fall in line to assess easier head counting. Doing the same in fire drill and others in some other time with simulated situation are also some of the recommendations.

 

   In closing, RD Abutazil thanked the OCD IX for conducting the drill as a helpful avenue in minimizing impact of any possible unprecedented disasters.
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