Metro Manila mayors to revisit quake preparedness

MANILA, Philippines — Following the magnitude 6.9 temblor that struck Cebu, Metro Manila mayors will review the earthquake preparedness measures, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said yesterday.

Zamora, who also serves as president of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), said local chief executives in the region have long been preparing for a possible major earthquake or “the Big One.”

“The MMC has been conducting preparations, including earthquake drills and clustering of local government units for emergency and disaster response,” Zamora told The STAR.

He said the capacity building of emergency responders and continued education of residents remain crucial.

“Our training and drills must continue. People should know the location of the evacuation centers and what they should do during an earthquake,” Zamora said.

“I also encourage the public to join reserve programs so civilians know what actions to take in case of a disaster,” he added.

Zamora emphasized the importance of maintaining rescue equipment, emergency vehicles and trained personnel to ensure readiness.

He said he would discuss with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Romando Artes the inclusion of earthquake preparedness in the next MMC meeting.

Zamora said preparedness should be a shared responsibility between the government and the public to minimize the risks and impact of major disasters.