At least 6,000 join final day of earthquake drill

CEBU, Philippines - More than 6,000 students, teachers, and employees of the Abellana High School participated in the culminating activity of the three-day earthquake drill.

The drill was organized to instill readiness and information on proper procedures in the event an earthquake strikes. The final evaluation yesterday morning started at 9am and ended past 10am.

The activity was undertaken with the help of the Philippine National Police, Philippine National Red Cross-Cebu chapter, Department of Health (DOH), Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Collapse Structure and Rescue Team, Brgy. Basak, Brgy. Zapatera and Abellana High school earthquake team.

Some students were made to act as victims, either injured or dead, while the rest were made to imagine that the earthquake had brought down the school building with the rescue team responding to the incident.

A student who pretended to have collapsed during the “incident” due to hyperventilation was brought to a medical assistance booth where he was attended to for his supposed asthma. 

Jennylind Enriquez, technical vocational education teacher, said the drill was conducted in Abellana because the school houses the biggest number students in Cebu City. — Veronica G. Basas and Jen-jen Raymundo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)