NDCC chief leads quake drill in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr. will lead an earthquake drill at the Caloocan City High School today, Mayor Enrico Echiverri said.

Echiverri said the city government and other local government units in other parts of the country will hold the drill at exactly 9 a.m. as the nation observes its third quarter nationwide earthquake drill.

Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando and other ranking government officials are expected to attend the Caloocan quake drill, he said.

Members of the local Bureau of Fire Protection are set to show their rescue skills in cooperation with the city health department, the social welfare department and the public information office.

The other activities scheduled are a water search and rescue capability demonstration, basic life support training for local rescue groups, a symposium on disaster preparedness, and a disaster preparedness information drive. – Pete Laude