Manila orders monthly earthquake drills

MANILA, Philippines — Following a powerful temblor that killed at least 47 people in Mindanao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno ordered yesterday mandatory monthly earthquake drills and building inspections to strengthen disaster preparedness.

During the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting, Moreno ordered the inspections of schools, hospitals, old buildings and government structures across the city in case a similar disaster hits the nation’s capital.

Citing “The Big One” or the projected highly destructive earthquake to hit Metro Manila, Moreno also directed public schools in the city to conduct monthly earthquake simulation exercises.

Moreno said universities, including the city-run Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Universidad de Manila, should regularly conduct earthquake drills.

“If we create some level of muscle memory for our students, especially new learners in Kindergarten and Grade 1, they will become familiar with these activities every month,” Moreno said during the meeting.

Schools do not need to conduct earthquake simulations simultaneously, according to Moreno.

“They can schedule it within the month during school hours,” he said.

Moreno also sought assistance from national agency partners in carrying out simulation drills and testing new technologies, including the city’s heat-seeking drone.

Moreno said the local government is ready to deploy personnel to assist in retrieval operations in quake-stricken Cotabato, General Santos City and Sarangani.

Moreno placed Manila under high alert status on Monday after a 7.8 magnitude temblor jolted Mindanao.

“This is part of regular preparations of the local government every time there is a strong earthquake, regardless of its distance from Metro Manila,” he said.