DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – In order to ensure that its employees know how to react and what to do in case of an earthquake, the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) participated in the quarterly NationwideSimultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) held at the provincial capitol on March 25 at exactly 9:00 AM.

Other national agencies, such as  Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office (ZNPPO), the Bureau of Fire (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Civil Society Organizations (CSO), also joined the drill. 

They also conducted the search and rescue on the upper floors, which required responders to rappel with their victims.

According to PDRRMO officer-in-charge Norman Alegarbes, their office coordinated with the Dipolog City Traffic Management office to close the roads surrounding the provincial capitol. This precaution was made to give emergency vehicles exclusive access to the area for the duration of the drill.

He also revealed that they are planning on incorporating tsunami drills in the future, as Zamboanga del Norte is a coastal province.

“Confident na mi nga kung simbako naay linog in the future, at least kabalo na ang atong mga empleyado kung unsay dapat nilang buhaton aron dili na magka ratol-ratol,” he said.

(We are confident that if ever there is an earthquake, at least our employees will know what to do to avoid panicking.)

After performing the duck, cover, hold, and evacuation procedures, the different provincial departments conducted a headcount of their employees to ensure that none of their staff were left behind.

Upon reporting their dramatized missing personnel and identifying possible locations where they could have been stuck, the PDRRMO, PNP, and PCG deployed their search and rescue units and K9s to search for the victims and bring them to a safe location where the Philippine Red Cross, together with another PDRRMO unit, were waiting to conduct medical care.

Meanwhile, the BFP was occupied with putting out a mock fire that had started in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan building right beside the capitol, as fires are often a secondary concern of an earthquake along with tsunamis and landslides.

He also encouraged residents and employees alike to participate in these drills as seriously as possible, as they can be the fine line that determines whether or not they come out of calamities uninjured. (RVC/PJF/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)