By: Keith Anthony S. Linan
| Faculty, staff and students gather at the evacuation area.
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Capiz State University-Mambusao Satellite College participated in the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake (NSED) Drill for the first quarter of 2023 yesterday, March 9.
The activity, led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), earlier encouraged the public to get involved in the earthquake drills.
NSED is a national event which involves the participation of government entities, non-governmental organizations, private and academic institutions, media, as well as other stakeholders.
Quarterly drills are organized to raise awareness and preparedness for earthquakes, which can happen anytime and anywhere.
It aims to simulate a realistic scenario where students and teachers would know what to do in case of an actual earthquake.
Before the activity started, Prof. Jomar Lamila, DRRM chairperson, gave brief instructions about safety precautions that the students, faculty and staff must observe during the activity and reminded everyone to take seriously and practice the “Duck, Cover, and Hold.”
He also reminded everyone of the phases of earthquake drill: (1) Alarm, (2) Response), (3) Evacuation, (4) Assembly, (5) Head Count, and (6) Evaluation.
At exactly 2:00 P.M., the drill started with a siren that signaled the start of the earthquake scenario.
The faculty, staff and students quickly ducked down to the floor, covered their heads, and hid under the tables until the siren stopped.
When the sound stopped, they immediately evacuated the building following the designated evacuation routes and assembly areas.
After evaluating and ensuring that everyone was safe a signal was given, ending the earthquake drill.
In an interview with Prof. Lamila, he told The Courier that it is imperative that the faculty, staff and students participate in earthquakes drills.
“This drill will be beneficial for our students and faculty nga mabal-an nila ang things to do during an earthquake, not just here in school even sa anda nga mga balay or kon diin man sanda. And it is timely kay few days ago may mga linog sa Davao,” he said.
Students also found it important to participate in the recent National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill.
“Para magka-ideya kag makaprepare sang self kon ano aton dapat himuon kon nagalinog. Especially ma retain sa isip ta ang natawag nga duck, cover and hold,” Allgin O. Dueño, BSFT 1-A, shared.
Meanwhile, another student said that joining earthquake drills can help ensure safety when earthquakes happen.
“We need to participate in these earthquake drills to know what we should do and don’t before, during, and after an earthquake especially we can’t predict when it would happen, so it is better to be ready and prepared to ensure our safety,” Joan Arboleda, BSCS 3-B, told The Courier.
Personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and Philippine National Police went to CAPSU Mambusao to evaluate and note their observations of how was the drill carried out in the campus.