Be ready for quakes, Quezon City residents urged

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday urged residents to implement earthquake preparedness measures following the series of tremors and aftershocks that hit different parts of the country.

“An earthquake can possibly occur any time and unfortunately, there is no technology that can predict when it will strike. It’s better that we start educating ourselves so that we can prepare for disasters like this,” Belmonte said.

She said the local government has an existing ordinance on disaster risk reduction, which requires mandatory earthquake drills for establishments in the city.

“Establishments should conduct earthquake drills twice a year. That’s mandatory and no establishment is exempted. Schools, business establishments, residential areas, markets, places of worship, health care facilities and local government offices are all required to do the drill,” she said.

Belmonte said Quezon City has a contingency plan for worst-case scenarios during earthquakes.

“Since last year, we have adopted the disaster risk reduction plan in preparation for earthquakes and other calamities,” she said.

The vice mayor, however, said these measures would not be effective if the people would not educate themselves.

“During disasters, anything can happen. Although we try our best to respond to emergencies, there are factors that are out of our control,” she said.

Belmonte urged families to prepare emergency kits and designate meeting points or evacuation sites during a disaster.

She reminded the residents to check their homes for possible structural damage, secure heavy appliances or furnishings that could fall and cause accidents, and assign exit paths in the event of an earthquake.

Belmonte said all government buildings in Quezon City were declared safe aby the City Disaster Assessment and Needs Analysis Team after an assessment.