Legarda Urges Citizens to Cooperate in MMDA Quake Drill

As concerned government agencies and private institutions prepare for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) second Metro Manila Shake Drill on June 22, Senator Loren Legarda today urged citizens to cooperate in the exercise.

Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, said, “Everyone is encouraged to participate in the earthquake drill and take the exercise seriously. Earthquakes can occur without warning, there is no way to predict what will happen when it does, but there is a way to be able to survive and minimize casualties and damages. Preparation is half the battle won.”

“We need to accept that we are constantly exposed to natural hazards but we do not have to live in perpetual fear of it. There are laws that aim to help us become proactive to addressing these natural hazards so they would not turn into disasters. We need to take disaster preparedness seriously and cooperation among all sectors of society is very important,” Legarda added.

The exercise is based on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2004.

According to the 2004 MMEIRS study, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila may destroy 40% of residential buildings, cause 34,000 deaths, injure 114,000 individuals, and the ensuing fires may also result in 18,000 additional fatalities.

The Senator has insisted that the regular conduct of fire and earthquake drills in schools, offices and residential communities would effectively instill disaster preparedness among citizens.

Legarda also wants the establishment of early warning systems for earthquake and tsunami; determine open spaces for safe refuge when temblors occur; and craft evacuation plans that would help citizens find out the fastest and safest way to reach open spaces and other safe areas.***

What to do before, during and after an earthquake? Visit this link to access the Disaster Preparedness and First Aid Handbook: Click here