BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO

Various schools and government offices in Baguio City participated in the 1st Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on March 14 to reinforce disaster preparedness.

At exactly 3:00 p.m., employees of the Office of Civil Defense Cordillera (OCD-CAR) performed the “duck, cover, and hold” technique in response to a simulated magnitude 4.9 earthquake.

Students from Baguio City National High School and city hall employees also evacuated to designated open spaces.

Following the drill, an incident command post was set up to assess the simulated damages and casualties. One participant acted as an injured individual in need of medical attention.

“We must internalize disaster preparedness, from the highest level of government to families, so that we are always ready—not just for ‘The Big One’ but for any earthquake,” said OCD-CAR Regional Director Albert Mogol.

Jemimah Lazo, a 15-year-old student, shared how her experience during the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Abra in 2022 made her more aware of the importance of earthquake drills. “If you’re not used to participating, you might panic in a real situation, which could put you in more danger,” she said.

Baguio City National High School also identified student population size as a challenge in evacuation procedures. “We need to ensure our learners know what to do during disasters,” said teacher Dolores Coman.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera (DSWD-CAR) also joined the drill, emphasizing the role of regular simulations in increasing awareness and preparedness.

The Philippines experiences around 20 earthquakes daily, with Northern Luzon situated near several fault lines, including the Bagui Fault, Digdig Fault, and Abra River Fault. Authorities continue to conduct community training sessions to improve disaster response.