MMDA to hold earthquake drill

MANILA, Philippines -  The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will hold an earthquake response and rescue drill tomorrow to prepare for the possibility of a strong tremor hitting the metropolis, an official said yesterday.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said he will lead the agency’s more than 6,000 employees, who will assemble at 7 a.m. at the headquarters in Makati City and at the four base camps in Quezon City, Pasig, Manila, and Pasay.

“The extensive mobilization drill and disaster response training will be carried out in the wake of the earthquake that recently hit Eastern Samar and Bukidnon,” Tolentino said.

Tomorrow, Tolentino said they would practice the deployment of personnel to the four base camps using all available transportation modes at the MMDA. “We will also test our communications equipment during the drill, to see how reliable they can be particularly when disasters strike. Communications is vital in any rescue and relief operations,” he said.

Under “Oplan Metro Yakal,” launched last year, all MMDA employee-rescuers shall report to their assigned sectors or base camps – the Veterans Memorial Golf Course in the north, the Ultra Sports Center in the east, the Intramuros Golf Course for the west, and the Villamor Airbase Golf Course for the south – as soon as possible after an earthquake.