Jun 062013
One week after a magnitude-5.7 quake jolted Cotabato, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will hold a nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill this Monday, June 10.
The NDRRMC said its chairman and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will lead the drill at Barangay San Vicente in San Manuel town in Pangasinan at 9 a.m. of Monday.
“The drill shall include San Roque Dam in its scenario and aims to gauge the response of the local government surrounding communities,” it said.
Gazmin will be joined by NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology head Renato Solidum Jr. in leading the drill.
In Pangasinan, local officials including Governor Amado Perez and San Manuel Mayor Alain Jerico Perez are also expected to attend.
“This activity is part of the ongoing disaster preparedness activities of the NDRRMC-Office of Civil Defense,” the NDRRMC said.
Last June 1, a magnitude-5.7 quake hit Cotabato and caused damage to several houses and schools, forcing may students to miss the first week of school.
The quake has prompted the provincial council to declare a state of calamity over Cotabato. —KG, GMA News
