San Jose Central School, the largest public elementary school in Tacloban City, successfully conducted an earthquake drill today, July 10. The activity aimed to test the school’s contingency plan and the capacity of their disaster risk reduction committee to manage an emergency that is likely to happen when classes are ongoing. It was held in line with the country’s observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.
In photo: Students proceed to the designated open space for evacuation while still in the duck and cover position.
San Jose Central School, the largest public elementary school in Tacloban City, successfully conducted an earthquake drill today, July 10. The activity aimed to test the school’s contingency plan and the capacity of their disaster risk reduction committee to manage an emergency that is likely to happen when classes are ongoing. It was held in line with the country’s observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.
The drill was organized by local NGO Assistance and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development (ACCORD) as part of a disaster risk reduction project in partnership with DepEd Tacloban City Division Office, the Korean Medical NGO – Global Care, and KOICA. It is the culmination of a series of trainings, public awareness activities, and the formation of the school’s disaster risk reduction committee.
Upon sounding of the alarm, some 3,300 pupils and almost 100 teachers and non-teaching personnel quickly assumed the “duck, cover and hold” position. When the alarm stopped, the school children, covering their heads, quickly evacuated in an organized manner to the open space at the center of the school grounds. The open space was earlier identified as the school’s safe evacuation area.
Monina Gabrino, school principal, said that the school-wide evacuation drill ensures that students and teachers are ready in the event of a destructive earthquake. “Every pupil should be safe while learning. This is a challenge for all of us to live out the role and responsibility expected of us,” she added. Barangay and city officials were also at hand to support and observe the conduct of the drill.
ACCORD executive director Marieta Lupig Alcid thanked San Jose Central School for taking on the challenge. “Schools are important in disaster risk reduction. Students and teachers have the capacity to not only protect themselves but also to promote a culture of safety. Working with and through them is an important step towards building more resilient communities.”
Alcid also noted the importance of drills in raising public awareness on disaster preparedness. “Much has been reported on the West Valley Fault and the Big One earthquake in Metro Manila, but what about other areas – are they ready? Almost two years ago, Yolanda devastated this region. It doesn’t matter if it’s an earthquake or a typhoon – we all have the responsibility to ensure that a disaster of that scale does not happen again.”
A similar earthquake drill was successfully conducted Thursday in Sagkahan Elementary School in Tacloban City. More than 1600 students and fifty teachers and non-teaching personnel participated in the drill. In the coming weeks, five more schools will also conduct their respective earthquake drills – City Central School, San Fernando Central School, Rizal Central School, Anibong Elementary School and Capangian Central School.
