Execs mull Japan-like approach vs. quakes

CEBU, Philippines — As Cebu Province and Cebu City confront the realities of seismic vulnerability, local leaders are pushing for a multi-pronged approach to disaster preparedness --one that includes emergency “Go Bags”, protective gear for children, and a cultural shift inspired by Japan’s earthquake resilience.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro confirmed that the Capitol is canvassing suppliers for Go Bags similar to those distributed in Pasig City.

“Nay niaring supplier kahapon, but I’m still looking for some items that I want to be placed in the Go Bag --something innovative… We are spending government money biya, so make sure nga dili overpriced,” she said.

The goal is to have one Go Bag per household across Cebu Province. But with the province’s vast geography, she acknowledged the need to coordinate with LGUs.

She, however, said Go Bags are just part of what should be done to prepare for any unfortunate incident.

“The Go Bag is one way, the hard hat is one way… but maybe our attitude also, we have to look into. Kay panic pa kaayo ta when there is an earthquake, but the Japanese live with it,” she said.

Baricuatro’s reflections followed a courtesy visit from Japanese ambassador Endo Kazuya on October 14.

Joined by consul general Hideaki Matsuo and JICA chief representative Takashi Baba, the ambassador handed over emergency relief goods to the Capitol and DSWD-7 in response to the September 30 earthquake.

The donation included 250 tents, 1,500 sleeping pads, 25 plastic sheets, 250 jerry cans, 1,500 blankets, and five potable water purifiers.

Baricuatro recalled asking the ambassador how Japanese cope with frequent earthquakes.

“Ingon siya nga it’s part of their lives na kuno. Early on, as kids they were already taught how to conduct themselves during an earthquake,” she said, “it’s something we have to accept somehow, and someday learn to live with.”

The September 30 magnitude 6.9 quake revealed the Bogo Bay Fault and other unmapped fault lines, prompting PHIVOLCS to reassess Cebu’s seismic profile. Latest available situational report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council as of presstime showed that there has already been close to 13,000 aftershocks from the main earthquake last month ranging from 1 to 5.8-magnitude.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is also studying the feasibility of distributing Go Bags to all 140,000 city households.

In a recent conversation with League of Cities of the Philippines president Mayor Francis Zamora of San Juan who personally came to check on the LGUs and the affected residents in northern Cebu, Archival asked for insights into Pasig’s procurement and distribution strategy.

“Pasig City has been giving out emergency Go Bags, and I think it's a good idea we can also adopt in Cebu,” Archival said, “but we're still studying how to distribute them properly.”

Together with Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, they are reviewing logistics, while the city considers a second initiative modeled after Davao: providing hardhats to public school children to boost safety and awareness.

With an estimated 125,000 students in public schools, the city is assessing procurement sources and how to include private schoolchildren.

Zamora noted that several Metro Manila cities including San Juan, Manila, and Pasig have distributed Go Bags funded through local disaster budgets. San Juan’s kits include hardhats, flashlights, power banks, raincoats, and first-aid supplies.

As both Capitol and City Hall weigh implementation, leaders agree that Go Bags are only part of the solution.

Japan’s seismic safety net is woven from decades of investment and innovation, the Global Disaster Preparedness Center noted. Rigorous building codes ensure that homes, schools, and offices are designed to bend, not break.

Early warning systems send alerts within seconds, giving people time to act. Evacuation plans are tailored to local terrain, and public education campaigns reach every corner of society --from schoolchildren to senior citizens.

Japan’s infrastructure is engineered to absorb shock; buildings rest on foundations that cushion seismic waves, flexible designs allow structures to sway safely, and automated systems shut off gas and electricity during tremors, preventing secondary disasters.

Earthquake drills are routine in schools and workplaces, evacuation routes and tsunami zones are clearly marked in public spaces, and emergency kits are standard in homes, offices, and transit hubs.

“We have to live with what’s going on,” Baricuatro said, “just like Japan.”