ILOILO City – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Visayas will continue conducting earthquake drills despite the apparent lack of seriousness shown by some participants, stressing that repeated exercises remain crucial in preparing the public to survive when a major earthquake strikes.
The agency said it has no authority to sanction employees or participants who fail to take earthquake drills seriously, but emphasized that consistent practice is essential in developing the “muscle memory” needed for people to react instinctively during real disasters.
Atty. Melissa Banias, officer-in-charge of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Division and Operations Section of OCD Region 6, made the statement after coordinators observed that some employees did not actively participate during the recent Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) at Iloilo City Hall.
“The only thing we can do is continue conducting these drills. We cannot impose sanctions on them. At the end of the day, they are the ones who will benefit,” Banias said during a press conference.
She said the agency remains committed to holding regular earthquake drills until people acquire the proper response habits that could save lives during emergencies.
“There is still a high level of uncertainty. We never know when a strong earthquake will strike. The government will not stop conducting these drills until everyone learns what to do and how to respond in case of an emergency,” she said.
Banias underscored that disaster preparedness is a shared responsibility between the government and the public, stressing that every household should be capable of surviving for at least 72 hours following a major disaster without immediately depending on government assistance.
She also urged residents not to wait for a devastating earthquake or any other calamity before taking preparedness activities seriously, assuring that government agencies will continue educating communities on disaster readiness.
The reminder coincides with the opening of National Disaster Resilience Month on July 1, during which the OCD and its partner agencies in Western Visayas will conduct various preparedness activities, including the Rescuelympics in Antique and the Kabalaka Expo in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, beginning July 2./PN
