NDRRMC: Too early to assess Manila's readiness for big quake

MANILA, Philippines - National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Alexander Pama said he was satisfied with what he saw in state agency's earthquake drill om Manila but claimed it is too early to say that Metro Manila is prepared for the big one.

“Personally, I’m satisfied with what I saw if only on the basis that we have the opportunity to do an exercise like this,” Pama said in an interview Wednesday.

“It may be premature to say that we are prepared for a big one. On the basis of the scenario that was given, we can say they’re prepared but then again, this is incident specific. We cannot cover all scenarios that can actually happen,” he added.

Pama said they have to study the reports to be submitted by the drill’s evaluators before they can say what areas need to be improved.

The scenario in Wednesday's drill was an 8-intensity earthquake in Manila caused by a movement in the West Valley Fault.

Also known as the Marikina fault line, the West Valley Fault starts from the Sierra Madre and runs through Bulacan; Rodriguez, Rizal; Quezon City; the eastern side of Metro Manila including Pasig, Taguig, Muntinlupa; San Pedro and Sta. Rosa in Laguna and ends in Carmona, Cavite.

Responders also demonstrated how they would deal with collapsed buildings, traffic accidents and fire incidents.

The drill, which was held along Roxas Boulevard from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., caused heavy traffic because of the closure of north and southbound lanes from T.M. Kalaw to Quirino Avenue.

Pama appealed for understanding from the public, saying the activity was meant to save lives and to prepare the country for disasters.

“We know there will be inconvenience but it is more difficult to blame each other for something that we did not prepare for,” Pama said.

“Sometimes, inconvenience is a necessity if only for the purpose of having the common good, to save lives,” he added.