MANOLO FORTICH LDRRMO LEADS EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE

Community Earthquake Drill, Mass Evacuation, and Camp Management Drill at Barangay Agusan Canyon

The Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich, through the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office headed by LDRRMO III Gina G. Olano, conducted the OPLAN PAGSASANAY, a Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) for community earthquake drill, mass evacuation, and camp management drill at Barangay Agusan Canyon on October 4, 2024.

The SIMEX is in accordance with the updated contingency plan on landslides and the Annual Investment Plan 2024 of the LDRRMO for disaster preparedness in the municipality. “Part ni siya sa Agenda ni Mayor, 10-Point-Agenda - atong disaster preparedness sa Manolo Fortich. So mao ni siya nga gikinahanglan gyud nato nga mag-exercise gyud ta. Ang drill mao mana siya ang pamaagi noh nga mag-practice kita kay para simbako og naay mahitabo nga ingon ani, earthquake or unsa pa nga mahitabo, at least nga preparado kita.”, said Olano. She also stressed the importance of community participation and coordination among various stakeholders to ensure the success of the program.

The participants of the exercise were Men in Uniform which included the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the 52nd Engineer Brigade - Philippine Army. Also in attendance were LGU personnel headed by Municipal Administrator Engr. Joie Caesar Gaid, the Barangay Council of Agusan Canyon led by Brgy. Captain Ben Dacayo, Barangay Volunteers, rescue champs, government and non-government agencies. The Incident Command Post (ICP) grouped the participants into teams: Incident Command Team, Camp Management Team, and Incident Response Team.

More than 200 residents of Barangay Agusan volunteered to participate in the said activity. 150 students per school also volunteered to participate in the drill. The teams managed to simulate the exercise from the earthquake drill to mass evacuation and rescue operations up to camp management. After the earthquake drill and mass evacuation, a short feedback activity took place inside the DMPI social hall, which served as the evacuation camp where tents were laid out. Vice Mayor Reynaldo Bagayas Jr., along with Sangguniang Bayan Members Coun. Floramae Penaso Committee Chairperson on Disaster Resilience, Coun. Joy Cordovez Committee Chairperson on Health, and Coun. Atty, Jay Albarece Committee Chairperson on Peace and Order and Public Safety, were present during the drill.

“Walay perpekto nga plano, kabalo mi nga daghan pa gyud kaayong angay nga atong e-konsidera, pero tungod ug alang sainyong mga suggestions basin og atong ma-incorporate ang mga kinahanglanon diha sainyong purok. Karong adlawa atong e-assess, ang kani siyang atong gibuhat mao ni siya ang camp management nga kung simbako mahitabo na kini siya, naa tay pagahimoon nga ingon ani. So matag usa ka tent is usa ka pamilya nga mahibal-an ninyo kung unsay mga panginahanglanon. Kinahanglan nga e-least ang mga skwelahan nga himoon og evacuation center kay padayon gyapon ang skwela maskin naay calamity.”, Vice Mayor Bagayas stated.

He emphasized that the drill is a crucial component of the municipality's ongoing efforts to bolster the disaster preparedness of its barangays, particularly in response to the potential threat of earthquakes. The exercise aimed to enhance the readiness and responsiveness of the local government and its constituents in the face of potential natural disasters and look for gaps and areas to improve, ultimately contributing to the overall resilience of the municipality.