Phivolcs, NDCC conduct tsunami drills in Surigao

The government began holding exercises yesterday based on a community-based tsunami early warning system in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur to create awareness on disaster preparedness in the barangay level.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in partnership with the National Disaster Coordinating Council, kicked off the tsunami preparedness drills in General Luna town on Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte.

"General Luna is a good pilot community because of its high exposure to the Philippine Trench that can generate a ‘tsunamigenic’ earthquake, and its fast-growing population, being one of the top tourist destinations in the country," Phivolcs said.

The exercise included a lecture on tsunami hazards and precautionary measures, and the turn—over of the early warning system to the General Luna municipal government, which included six tsunami warning signages to be installed in strategic locations in the town proper.

Also part of the training was a tsunami evacuation plan for the residents in the town proper of General Luna.

A similar activity is scheduled today in Claver, the easternmost municipality of Surigao del Norte, and on Monday, in Barangay Diatagon in Lianga, Surigao del Norte.

The project is under the Hazards Mapping and Assessment for Effective Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Project, or Project READY, which is funded by the United Nations Development Program.