ILOILO City — With a surge in major tremors recently rattling several parts of the country, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) is stepping up preparedness in Western Visayas through a two-day region-wide earthquake and tsunami drill on October 23 and 24.
An earthquake is the sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement along faults or volcanic activity beneath the Earth’s crust.
In coastal areas, strong undersea quakes may trigger a tsunami — a series of powerful waves that can travel rapidly inland and cause devastating flooding and destruction.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 led by Director Raul Fernandez announced that the activity aims to test the region’s readiness to respond to powerful quakes and tsunami threats that could potentially affect the Visayas.
The move comes after strong earthquakes struck Cebu, Davao, and Zambales, highlighting the urgent need for community preparedness.
“These drills are necessary in strengthening community preparedness and coordination for seismic and tsunami hazards, going beyond the regular Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drills,” Fernandez said.
He added that “familiarity breeds confidence,” explaining that “if you know what to do and where to go during an earthquake, you significantly reduce the chances of panic attacks that can occur when faced with an emergency.”
A coordination meeting was earlier held via Zoom, attended by representatives from various local DRRM councils, government agencies, educational institutions, state universities and colleges (SUCs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private partners, to finalize the synchronized drill execution across all six provinces of the region.
Two-Day Drill Schedule
* October 23 – Antique, Iloilo Province, and Iloilo City
* October 24 – Aklan, Capiz, and Guimaras
The exercise will simulate a magnitude 7.2 earthquake followed by a tsunami warning, with key actions such as “duck, cover, and hold” and immediate evacuation procedures to designated safe zones.
Fernandez stressed that preparedness is a shared responsibility: “Preparedness is not just about being aware; it’s about being ready. When an earthquake strikes, it’s the moments of chaos that will test our resilience.”
He lamented that while “actually quarterly meron tayong national simultaneous earthquake drill,” many communities “are not taking it seriously.”
The OCD-6 chief reminded residents to take drills to heart by knowing emergency exits, evacuation routes, and assembly areas.
He said such knowledge could spell the difference between survival and tragedy.
“Earthquakes are unpredictable. They strike without warning, which makes our preparation crucial. A resilient community is built on infrastructure that meets safety standards. If our buildings are constructed according to these standards, we stand a better chance against potential damage during seismic events,” Fernandez said.
The RDRRMC hopes the region-wide simulation will strengthen inter-agency coordination and foster a culture of safety — ensuring that Western Visayas remains alert and resilient in the face of natural disasters./PN