March 10, 2022, Koronadal City - The whole DILG Rehiyon Dose workforce, led by Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa performs the “duck, cover, and hold” as they participate in the First Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for CY 2022 on March 10, 2022, at the DILG XII Regional Office, Koronadal City.
The NSED is a quarterly exercise that is undertaken on a regular basis to enhance the earthquake preparedness of local government units, line agencies, and other government instrumentalities and educate the general public about earthquake and preparedness measures should an earthquake occur.
DILG XII employees earlier joined the online NSED program spearheaded by the NDRRMC through the Office of Civil Defense in both Zoom and FB live platforms which started at 8 am while they were in their respective offices. The online program was then followed by the ceremonial pressing of the button at 9 am. As part of the drill, the employees made sure they were wearing face masks and hard hats while observing physical distancing. The drill was also extended to the field office personnel and their families were also encouraged to participate.
With the issuance of NDRRMC Memorandum No. 21 s. 2022, this year’s First Quarter NSED focuses on women, children, youth and students, and senior citizens. The online program was attended by the NDRRMC Chairperson and DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana together with the NDRRMC Vice-Chairpersons, DOST Undersecretary Renato Solidum, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, DSWD Undersecretary Felicisimo Budiongan and guests from the Philippine Commission on Women and Coalition of Services for the Elderly.
Secretary Año, in his message, “all of us should take part in anticipating and preparing for the worst crisis. Nararapat na alam natin sa ating mga sarili and mga aksyong gagawin while we recognize that calamities do not choose nor discriminate because people across ages, gender, and civil status can be victims. He added that “it becomes imperative now to target the more susceptible ones in order to properly identify and establish our new approaches. These sectors need to be well-versed and well-aware of their own important role to enforce protection and decrease injuries and casualties amidst disasters. Indeed, in a country where earthquakes strike off more frequently, readiness and resiliency should be kept in mind.”
In-person or face-to-face earthquake drills are still suspended due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
For its part, DILG XII has always been consistent in supporting the advocacy for the NSED by providing an exclusive and official FB Page cover photo featuring the NSED banner. DILG XII Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, who had a Master’s in Crisis and Disaster Risk Management, has always highlighted the need to ‘be prepared at all times.’
The NDRRMC has already set its next quarterly CY 2022 National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill scheduled on June 9, 2022 (2nd Quarter), September 8, 2022 (3rd Quarter), and November 10, 2022 (4th Quarter), respectively.
