Shake drills increase readiness for 7.2 quake

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) declared Wednesday’s staging of the “Metro Manila Shake Drill” a success as thousands from the metro and nearby provinces took part in the earthquake drill.

“It is safe to say that we have exceeded last year's number of shake drill participants owing to the participation of regions 3 (Central Luzon) and 4 (Southern Tagalog), plus the pledge of (shopping) malls to contribute 500,000 participants. (The) primary to tertiary levels in schools joined as well plus motorists,” said MMDA public information head Hope Libiran.

Libiran added that the MMDA was also able to reach 3.3 billion about the shake drill through social media.

At exactly 9 a.m., sirens blared at the MMDA office in Makati City to signal the start of the earthquake drill.  

MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos then led MMDA officials and employees in executing the “duck, cover and hold” drill during the simulated 7.2 magnitude earthquake. 

During the simulation, employees were evacuated from the MMDA building as firemen from the Makati Fire Station arrived to douse a simulated fire at the building.

Following the simulated fire and evacuation at the MMDA building, emergency responders then rushed to the nearby Guadalupe Bridge to assist in the rescue of people “trapped” by debris.

Responding firemen rushed to extricate a passenger from a car pinned by debris at the bridge. Another group of firemen meanwhile doused water on a burning car also at the bridge.

At the same time, MMDA personnel rescued people from the Pasig River using rubber boats in a tense water search and rescue operation.

The drill dealing with the scenarios were over in just minutes as those rescued were transported by ambulances to Villamor Airbase which serves as the main evacuation and treatment area for south Metro Manila in the event of a 7.2 magnitude quake.

The entire shake drill just took about an hour to be completed. 

"The importance of surviving the earthquake is for us to allocate our resources even better. Dahil ‘pag kayo nag-survive hindi na namin kayo kailangan tulungan. Makakatulong kami sa iba. The more people who will do the duck cover and hold, the less effort on the part of the government (to help)," said Carlos.

Four sectors, various earthquake scenarios

The rescue operations and evacuation drills were planned according to the projected impact of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hitting Metro Manila, including the collapse of Guadalupe Bridge that would result in the separation of the South Quadrant from the rest of the metropolis.

The South Quadrant consists of Makati, Pasay, Taguig, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Pateros.

At the Makati City Hall, first responders from various units conducted an elevator rescue at the New Makati City Hall Building (Building 1).

Meanwhile, ladder fire truck rescue, rope safety rescue (high angle) and super tanker fire suppression were carried out at the roof deck of Makati City Hall Building 2. Rescue of “injured victims” were also done in buildings within city hall grounds and in selected institutions.

During Wednesday's shake drill, the MMDA divided Metro Manila into four sectors where various simulated earthquake scenarios would be played out.

For the West sector (Intramuros corner Burgos and Bonifacio Drive, in front of Manila Hotel in Manila), the MMDA staged a collapsed structure rescue and victim extrication at the MMDA Workers’ Inn, staged a fire suppression drill at the Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila Hotel and at the Baseco Compound.

Mass evacuation drills were also staged at the Manila City Hall, the Malabon City Hall and the Navotas City Hall. 

For the South sector (Villamor Golf Course in Pasay City), the MMDA staged a collapsed structure rescue at the Guadalupe MRT station (northbound) and a water rescue at the section of the Pasig River in Guadalupe, Makati. 

Simulated mass evacuations and debris clearing operations were also staged at the Taguig City Hall, the MMDA building, at the SM Mall of Asia, and at the Baclaran Church. 

A rescue operation and a headcount of inmates meanwhile was done at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City while a collapsed structure rescue operation was also simulated at the Alabang Viaduct area also in Muntinlupa City.

At the North sector (Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City), the MMDA staged a simulated high-angle rescue at the Quezon City Hall, a fire suppression drill at the Quezon Memorial Circle and at the Sandiganbayan building and at the Mandaluyong City Hall. 

Rescue operations were also simulated at the SM North mall and at the SM North footbridge.

Over at the East sector (LRT Line 2 Santolan depot in Pasig City), the MMDA staged a relief goods transport simulation using the Pasig River Ferry System.

The MMDA also simulated a collapsed structure rescue at the Riverbanks Mall in Marikina City, at the SM Marikina mall and Barangay Barangka also in Marikina City.