OCD holds earthquake, tsunami drill in Laoag City

PREPARING THEM. Schoolchildren of Caaoacan Elementary School in Laoag City participate in a nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill on November 14. The drill was organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (Andy L. Mangapit)

 By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporters

Laoag CITY—The regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spearheaded a five-day earthquake and tsunami drills in the city’s 14 coastal barangays.

The drill, participated in by all barangay officials concerned, also included a discussion on the signs of tsunami as well as its catastrophic effects.

The OCD officials and the City Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) chose Brgy. Caaoacan as site with the Ilocos Norte National High School campus as evacuation center.

Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas thanked the OCD officials for their efforts as well as the CDRRMC members, barangay officials and Caaoacan residents for their cooperation,

Based on the drill’s results, Ms. Fariñas said Laoag is now more prepared for these types of calamities though she wished nothing like those would happen.

She disclosed that she has approved all CDRRMS requests pertaining to the search and rescue team, including their taking of search and rescue seminars.

She added that a 4x4 pick-up truck to be used by the search and rescue team is expected to be delivered soon. The funding for the purchase was sourced from the city government’s Corporate Social Responsibility program.

However the mayor also said there are still room for improvements, specifically on having a nearer evacuation center.

Ms. Fariñas also pushed for the disaster reduction and management trainings in all the city’s barangays to prepare all Laoag residents.

PRTF also took part

MEANWHILE, the Provincial Resiliency Task Force (PRTF) composed of inter-government agencies both local and national level was also at Brgy. Caaoacan.  

“Evaluation result will serve as a room for improvement and it helps us manage the operation of disaster,” Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lilian Rin said.

Another scenario that highlights the disaster exercise at the same site is a tsunami drill, a natural calamity that usually comes after a strong quake with an offshore epicenter.

Meant to build the Ilocanos’ resiliency in times of natural disaster, the PRTF continuously set up drills to prepare and make people aware on what they will do in case major calamities like earthquakes and tsunamis happen.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where about 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes and 81 percent of the world’s largest earthquakes happen.