Metro shake drill: Duck, cover, take a selfie

MANILA, Philippines – Many took the admonition to “duck, cover and hold” seriously, but there were those who saw the occasion as a good opportunity for a selfie.

Yesterday’s Metro Manila Shake Drill was declared a success (see story on page 14). And as in any successful undertaking, people wanted their participation recorded for posterity.

Elmo San Diego, head of the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), said many young participants were excited and took selfies during the drill, detracting from the somber mood of rescue volunteers.

People also took selfies with the “victims” who were made to look wounded or dead during the simulation of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake from the West Valley Fault.

They were also taking pictures of the scenarios of fire, looting and other peace and order situations simulated during the drill.

San Diego advised participants to take the earthquake drill more seriously next time as it would be helpful in situations of actual calamity. It raises awareness to educate residents on the needed disaster preparedness skills.

Two women, customers of the City Treasurer’s Office, passed out during the drill when they thought that an actual earthquake hit the city.

They were rushed to the nearby East Avenue Medical Center for medical treatment.

Photo shows pupils taking cover during the drill at the Baguio Central Elementary School. ANDY ZAPATA JR.

San Diego said he is still happy with the overall results of the earthquake drill.

More than 3,000 volunteers from the local government, police, religious groups and the private sector were tapped for the earthquake drill. More than 200 establishments, including big companies like Eton, Ayala and SM Malls, also participated.

Public and private elementary and high schools also took part in the metro-wide earthquake drill. Education Secretary Armin Luistro recently issued a memorandum directing all basic education institutions across the country to hold drills.

Other institutions, including the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), joined the earthquake simulation.

“As far as the exercise is concerned, we are 100 percent ready. The problem is that if there is an earthquake, that’s the only time we can validate our preparedness. I am praying that our preparation will be the same as the actual,” San Diego explained.

San Diego noted that Quezon City is particularly vulnerable to the aftermath of a strong earthquake as it has the largest land area of all cities in Metro Manila.

It is home to about 2.7 million people and to a 7-kilometer part of the West Valley Fault Line.

Old hospitals in the city as well as informal settlements were tagged as the problem areas of the city in terms of earthquake preparedness.

The local government has suggested that old hospital buildings, like the Heart Center, Lung Center and the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, be retrofitted. – With Janvic Mateo