Manila, Philippines – Today, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has called on the public to actively participate in all available and accessible drills in their respective areas.  This exercise aims to provide the public with a continuing improvement of the nation’s competence in providing operational and appropriate disaster response. 

As reiterated by NDRRMC Executive Director Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno: “We call on everyone to join the drill once again as part of our effort to reinforce earthquake preparedness.  Earthquakes can happen anytime without warning and sometimes they can be devastating as what happened in Turkey.” He further encourages everyone to be part of the drill as the whole nation takes part in the first quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED).    

As the concurrent Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator, Nepomuceno has emphasized that preparedness and awareness matter in lessening the possible number of casualties caused by earthquakes.  “Preparedness always matters. Let us work together to reduce the possible impacts of earthquakes.  We hope for the widest participation in the upcoming drill,” he reiterated.

As public, private, and member agencies and institutions actively participate and demonstrate their preparedness and coordinating mechanisms for earthquake disaster response, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) actively responded to the call for the implementation of simultaneous earthquake drills and enjoined all its personnel and officers, including its transacting clients to observe the protocol on “Duck, Cover, and Hold” during the simulation and afterward, with the evacuation from the building premises.

With the 1st earthquake drill exercise for the current year, the PRC Emergency Response Team will look into the possible gaps, recommend needed enhancements to the existing emergency plan and contingency protocols for earthquake response to further boost the PRC personnel EQ preparedness capabilities.   

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