BGC holds quake drill

MANILA, Philippines - Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig’s business district, held an earthquake drill yesterday in preparation for the magnitude 7.2 temblor that could hit Metro Manila if the West Valley Fault moves.

Seventeen other areas across the country also held their own earthquake drills from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. as part of the 3rd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Office of Civil Defense.

One of the scenarios acted out had rescue personnel rappelling down the face of a building in a simulated high-angle rescue.

Rescue personnel also transported an “injured victim” from the roof of a building to the ground using a rescue basket.

Taguig police officers pursued and arrested “looters” who broke into a High Street supermarket.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum said earthquake drills should be held at least once a year.

He said that for as long as buildings are constructed following the National Building Code, there is little danger of collapse. He added that there is more danger posed by falling debris following an earthquake.

 “Construction workers would be at risk during the shaking. They should know what to do during an earthquake and after,” he said.

Quake-resistant

Manny Blas, the BGC’s head of commercial operations, said all buildings in the business district can withstand a magnitude 7.2 quake.

“That is why we are making our emergency preparations geared towards what we can do for our neighboring communities. Most likely if there is an earthquake, the BGC will be left standing and we would expect our neighbors coming here. We have a hospital here and supermarkets. We also have buildings that can shelter these people,” he said.

Blas said they are also coordinating with the Manila Golf and Country Club “so we can have access to the golf course in case we need to evacuate people there.”

Blas said the BGC will maintain a kilometer-long stretch of open space that runs through the High Street area as a possible evacuation site.

Blas added that should such a quake happen, the BGC has enough water for two days and could generate electricity from the diesel generators of its buildings for a maximum of five days.

Some QC cops not prepared

Meanwhile, more than 100 police officers and non-uniformed personnel of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) took part in the nationwide earthquake drill yesterday morning.

Superintendent Wilson delos Santos said he noticed some of the police officers and QCPD employees are not yet prepared for the magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

Military conducts tabletop exercise

On the other hand, about 100 soldiers took part in a military tabletop exercise at the Armed Forces Command and General Staff College Wargaming Center and Function Hall in Camp Aguinaldo.

The exercise tests their coordination plan in case a magnitude 7.2 quake hits Metro Manila.

“Insofar as the Armed Forces of the Philippines is concerned, we are ready,” AFP deputy chief for operations Brig. Gen. Angelito de Leon said in an interview.

“If the Big One happens, the instruction is to drop everything and switch to HADR (humanitarian and disaster response),” he added.

Earlier, the Phivolcs warned that 33,000 people could die if a 7.2-magnitude quake caused by the West Valley Fault hits Metro Manila and nearby areas.

De Leon said under their plan, troops from the Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac and Southern Luzon Command in Quezon will send troops to assist affected areas in Metro Manila.

He cited the need to improve logistics and communication systems to ensure prompt delivery of assistance. – With Robertzon Ramirez, Alexis Romero