NDRRMC: Nationwide earthquake drill March 27

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NDRRMC: Nationwide earthquake drill March 27

A nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill will be held on Friday, March 27, with Marikina City Hall as the ceremonial pilot venue.

A nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill will be held on Friday, March 27, with Marikina City Hall as the ceremonial pilot venue.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Thursday said the drill is to start at 9 a.m.

NDRRMC public affairs office head Romina Marasigan said the drill aims to test the National Disaster Response Plan, Metro Manila Open "Yakal" and the Marikina City contingency plan.

It also aims to highlight government capability in responding to emergency situations, especially in:

- managing the Incident Command System
- evacuating affected populace, focusing on women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities
- establishment and management of evacuation areas
- provisioning of medical assistance and relief

"Government offices, commercial establishments and non-government organizations across the nation are also participating in the local drills," Marasigan said.

NDRRMC chairman and defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin, NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology head Renato Solidum Jr. will attend the event in Marikina City.

Secondary pilot venues include the Armed Forces grandstand at Camp Aguinaldo and the Light Rail Transit 2 Santolan station.

The drill scenario stemmed from the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study in 2004.

Friday's drill is expected to simulate a magnitude-7.2 quake in the Valley Fault System that will affect Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal and Laguna. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA NewsMore from: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/459398/news/nation/ndrrmc-nationwide-earthquake-drill-march-27