Simultaneous Nationwide Earthquake and Fire Drill

"Better Safe than Sorry", it is always in my mind on whatever scenario or reasons I come up with, being careful is probably more desirable than risking a bad result. Especially now that sometimes nature is turning against us , it's important that readiness and preparedness is within us anytime.

Last Friday June 29 around 8:30 in the morning, schools nationwide conducted a National School-Based Earthquake and Fire Drill which happens quarterly. Schools simultaneously rung the alarm bell to alert students and teachers giving the impression of an emergency when there was actually none as a part of the said drill. Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC has directed all public and private schools nationwide as well as all DepEd offices and attached agencies to undertake the national simultaneous emergency drills as directive contained in DepEd Order No. 48, series of 2012.

DepEd Sec.Luistro joined the conduct of the simulated emergency response in the Pasig Central Elementary School at Caruncho Avenue in San Nicolas Pasig City as they partnered with the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) in the  emergency drills. Together they want to generate the highest level of awareness among the public on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptations through the emergency drills. “In doing this regularly, we can assess the capacity level and response of the schools and the community in the event of disasters and other emergencies,” Luistro explained.     

The Order also directs all public and private schools to prepare important requirements for the conduct of the activity which include the school site development plan, the composition of the school disaster management committee, identification of high risk areas inside the school which have been properly labeled, the emergency preparedness evaluation and contingency plan and the communication and coordination plan with the local government units and the local DRRMC.

Luistro said that all schools must have a school disaster management committee, which must be composed of an over-all coordinator, a first aid team, fire safety team, communication team, building safety inspection team, evacuation team and site security team. “Let us make sure that all bases are covered and secured so that we are not caught off guard when emergencies happen,” said Luistro.