BACOLOD CITY, July 22 (PNA) — The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Negros Occidental and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Bacolod conducted separate earthquake drills here Wednesday.
In the morning, six schools in Bacolod participated, including Education and Training Center School I, II and III along with Rizal Elementary School, Bacolod SPED Center, and Negros Occidental High School.
Special evaluator Mae Villaprudente of the Department of Education-6 said that schools should have a locator chart that will pinpoint their current location and direct them to the nearest exit or evacuation site.
Teachers were also encouraged to brief students and guardians on the school’s exits to avoid untoward incident such as clogging and stampede.
In the afternoon, an earthquake drill was conducted at the Capitol Building along Gatuslao Street.
During the drill, a one-minute siren was heard that signified a strong shaking of the earthquake. Beforehand, all Capitol employees were instructed of the “do’s and don’ts” during an earthquake.
Gatuslao Street, North Capitol and South Capitol Roads were closed during the drill that lasted for 30 minutes.
The earthquake drills were conducted in observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM) themed “Pamilya at Pamayanang Handa, Katuwang sa Pag-unlad ng Bansa.”
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., PDRRMC chairman, also issued an advisory to all city and municipal mayors and DRRM Council chairpersons to promote the NDCM observance in their respective cities and municipalities and highlight this year’s theme through significant DRRM activities. (PNA)