SCHOOLS are not merely places for learning; they are supposed to be sanctuaries where young minds can grow without fear. But what happens when the very institutions meant to protect children become vulnerable in the face of disaster?
That question deserves serious reflection following the recent earthquake drill conducted across schools under the Schools Division of Iloilo. The exercise demonstrated that students and teachers generally know what to do when the ground begins to shake. They can duck, cover, hold, and evacuate in an orderly manner. Yet many schools still lack adequate evacuation areas, rescue equipment, and emergency response resources.
In other words, our schools may be ready for drills but not necessarily for disasters.
The distinction is crucial.
A drill lasts only a few minutes. A real earthquake can bring down buildings, trap victims under rubble, disrupt communications, and create widespread panic. During such a crisis, the availability of open evacuation spaces, emergency medical supplies, rescue equipment, and trained responders can mean the difference between life and death.
The concern becomes even more urgent when one considers the scale involved. The Schools Division of Iloilo serves nearly 342,000 learners. These are children whose safety depends on the readiness of their schools. If even a fraction of them were placed at risk because of inadequate disaster-preparedness measures, the consequences could be devastating.
What makes the situation more alarming is that Iloilo is not located in a low-risk area. Panay Island sits within a region vulnerable to major seismic activity. The West Panay Fault cuts across several municipalities in Iloilo Province, including some of its most populated and rapidly developing communities. The Negros Trench, meanwhile, is capable of generating earthquakes reaching magnitude 8.2 and potentially triggering destructive tsunamis along coastal areas.
History itself offers a warning. The devastating “Lady Caycay” earthquake of January 25, 1948, remains one of the deadliest natural disasters to strike Panay. Churches collapsed. Bell towers crumbled. Communities suffered extensive destruction. In Iloilo, some of the province’s most iconic structures were reduced to ruins. The memory of that tragedy should not be confined to history books. It should serve as a constant reminder that another major earthquake is not a matter of if, but when.
The recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao, which claimed dozens of lives, further underscores this reality. Disasters do not wait until communities are fully prepared. They arrive without warning, exposing every weakness that has been ignored or postponed.
To be fair, the Department of Education has taken important steps. Earthquake drills are conducted regularly. Disaster risk reduction programs have been institutionalized. Awareness campaigns continue. These efforts are commendable and necessary.
But awareness alone cannot stop falling debris. Familiarity with evacuation procedures cannot compensate for the absence of safe assembly areas. Knowing whom to call for help does little if rescue equipment is unavailable when it is needed most.
Preparedness must move beyond compliance.
Local governments, school administrators, parent-teacher associations, and national agencies must work together to identify schools with inadequate evacuation spaces and prioritize infrastructure improvements. Emergency kits should become standard in every school. Teachers and staff should receive enhanced training in first aid, search-and-rescue basics, and emergency coordination. Most importantly, disaster preparedness funding must be treated not as an optional expense but as an essential investment.
The true measure of preparedness is not how well a drill is executed. It is whether lives can be protected when disaster strikes.
