Members of the National Disaster Risk and Management Council (NDRRMC) over the weekend convened and discussed preparations for a possible magnitude 7.2 earthquake, referred to as 'The Big One," that could hit Metro Manila anytime.
Chairing the meeting was NDRRMC Vice Chairperson and Deparment of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael D. Sueno. The meeting was held at the NDRRMC Conference Room at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
The meeting was attended by Vice Chairperson for Response and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo and NDRRMC Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad.
Present during the meeting were directors of member agencies: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), DSWD, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), PDRF, and ADMU.
Regional Directors of the OCD and DILG from Luzon also attended the convention.
Ishmael Narag of PHIVOLCS discussed the possibility of movement of the Metro Manila West Valley Fault System, which may result to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Narag's discussion focused on the massive impacts of the earthquake in Metro Manila which will lead to a huge economic loss. He also emphasized that 'The Big One' will not only affect Metro Manila, but also other regions of the country.
B/Gen. Manuel Gonzales of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) provided an overview on the "Oplan Metro Yakal Plus," which outlines the contigency plan for an earthquake based on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS).
Director Felino O. Castro V of DSWD, meanwhile, relayed the National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) for Earthquake and Tsunami, which was approved by the National Council during the council meeting on January 17, 2017.
Members of the National Council emphasized the full utilization of the NDRP and recommended that Local Government Units (LGUs) align its plans with the NDRP in assisting the metropolis in the event of an earthquake.
Taguiwalo expressed the need to firm up local plans and identify the details of assistance needed from the LGUs.
“We should spell-out the assistance we need from the LGUs to harmonize emergency response in the event of an earthquake,” Taguiwalo said.
The National Council is set to create a Technical Working Group to draft the guidelines on the creation of local plans for assisting Regions likely to be affected. A team composed of experts was proposed to be organized to monitor the progress of preparations for the implementation of the NDRP for Earthquake and Tsunami.
Source: Manila Bulletin
Image: The Philippine Star
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