Saturday, June 30, 2012

Public school students take part in quake drill

Students in public schools in the country held a quake drill Friday to keep themselves updated and aware of what to do in case an earthquake occurs.
In Pasig City, government officials supervised a quake drill at the Pasig Central Elementary School Friday morning, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported.
Students were seen sporting makeshift headgear made from doormats and garters, to protect them from falling debris.
"Ginawa ito ng magulang nila. Bumili ng doormat sa palengke (at) nilagyan ng garter para gawing sumbrero," said a teacher in the school.
A news release of the Education Department said Friday's exercise was part of the quarterly National School-Based Earthquake and Fire Drill.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro took part in the drill at the Pasig Central Elementary School in Pasig City.
“In doing this regularly, we can assess the capacity level and response of the schools and the community in the event of disasters and other emergencies,” Luistro said.
Also, Luistro reminded schools they must have a school disaster management committee composed of an overall coordinator, and teams for first aid, fire safety, communication, building safety inspection, evacuation, and site security.
The dzBB report said the students filed out of their classrooms when the bell signaling the start of the drill rang.
City rescue teams and representatives from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Defense Department and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, as well as the Philippine Red Cross, took part in the activity, it added. Quake drills
Earlier this year, disaster preparedness authorities pushed for quake drills for pupils at the start of the school year.
At the time, NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said children should always be aware of what to do if a powerful quake hits.
Among the powerful quakes that hit the country this year was the magnitude-6.9 quake that killed at least 55 people last Feb. 6 in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.
Only last June 17, a magnitude-6.0 quake jolted Luzon early Sunday, and was felt in Metro Manila and several neighboring provinces. — RSJ