LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – “Kayong mga bata, kasama kayo sa emergency response team,” said Burgos Mayor Crescente Garcia during the conduct of the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for the first quarter in the municipality on March 9.

He addressed this to the students of the Burgos Agro-Industrial School (BAIS) when it served as the regional pilot area for the earthquake drill.

“Kailangan talaga ang earthquake drill na ito dahil nararanasan natin ang mga lindol sa ating probinsiya. May nangyari rin na malakas na lindol sa Turkey kung saan marami ang namatay. Sana hindi mangyari sa atin ito,” said Garcia.

The earthquake drill is implemented every quarter of the year in the country as part of the government’s effort to promote disaster preparedness and resilience among Filipinos.

At exactly 2:00 p.m., Garcia led the team composed of the members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Office of the Civil Defense Region I, and other agencies for the ceremonial pressing of the button to signal the start of the drill.

During the simulation exercises, students of BAIS performed the “duck, cover, and hold” technique. Afterwards, they went to an open area as one of the mitigating measures to avoid casualties during an earthquake.

Meanwhile, emergency response team from the local government of Burgos, Bureau of Fire Protection, and municipal health office rescued “trapped and injured” victims which were acted out by students.

Although there is no perfect earthquake drill, evaluators lauded the drill conducted at BAIS, with some recommendations given to further improve their emergency response in the face of disasters. (JCR/MJTAB PIA Ilocos Norte)