ni Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren

Inabisuhan ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ang publiko na seryosohin ang apat na araw na earthquake drill na isasagawa sa Hulyo 14-17, ipinaalala na ito ay hindi panahon ng pagse-selfie.

Ayon kay Ramon Santiago, head ng Metro Manila Crisis Monitoring and Management Center (MMCMMC) ng MMDA, ang Metro Manila Shake Drill ay paghahanda para sa “the big one” o napakalakas na lindol sa National Capital Region.

“We are inviting everyone, from the grass root levels, community, business sector, national government to join. Not just to the individual ‘drop, cover and hold’ but how can we participate in our neighborhood,” pahayag ni Santiago sa radio program ng ahensiya na isinahimpapawid sa DZBB.

Ayon kay Santiago, ito ang unang pagkakataon na magsasagawa ng drill ng apat na magkakasunod na araw.

Sa drill, iba’t ibang emergency scenario ang isasagawa base sa isinagawang pag-aaral na aabot sa 37,000 indibiduwal ang mamamatay sa napakalakas na lindol.

“We hope to see how long people from other regions could respond, is it 12 or 24 hours? Just like in the past drills, there will be simulation or mock exercises that will happen. We want to see the gaps, how do communicate, how to establish the command and control center,” ani Santiago.