INATASAN ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ang lahat ng Local Chief Executives (LCEs) na magsagawa ng mga paghahanda at mahigpit na magpatupad ng kani-kanilang critical earthquake and tsunami preparedness measures bunsod ng banta ng posibleng pagtama ng kinatatakutang “The Big One” kasunod ng mga paglindol na yumanig sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Kasunod ito ng naging pahayag ni Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Jonvic Remulla na nangangamba siya na karamihan ng magiging casualties sakaling tumama ang “The Big One” o intensity 7.2 earthquake, ay mula sa hanay ng Informal Settler Families (ISFs).

Nabatid na nabanggit ito ni Sec. Remulla sa ginanap na pagdinig sa Senado hinggil sa DILG proposed 2026 budget, nang tanungin siya kung anong paghahanda ang ginagawa ng kagawaran para sa “The Big One” o posibleng pagtama ng 7.2 magnitude earthquake sa kalakhang Maynila.

Sa kasalukuyan umano ay matatag pa rin ang mga gusali at naniniwala ang kalihim na nakasunod pa ang mga istruktura sa Metro Manila sa kanilang pinaiiral na Building Code subalit kailangan umanong palakasin ang building codes sa mga munisipalidad para masuri ang structural integrity ng kanilang ng structures.

“If we do have the big one, most of the casualties will come from the ISFs, because none of their buildings were constructed with permits and they cook with kerosene and other non-regulated cooking implements and that is the major cause of fires and that will be the major cause of damage if we have the big one,” ayon sa kalihim

Ayon pa sa kalihim, kailangan ang proactive leadership at community readiness. Utos ng DILG, kailangang lahat ng local government units (LGUs) ay agad na kumilos nang tuloy-tuloy para protektahan ang buhay at mga imprastraktura.

Ayon pa sa direktiba ng kagawaran, “Emergency protocols, evacuation plans, and response systems must be fully operational, regularly updated, and clearly communicated to the public.”

Base umano sa rekomendasyon ng Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST–PHIVOLCS), inatasan ng DILG ang mga residente sa coastal areas na mamalaging nakaalerto sa mga posibleng natural tsunami warning signs gaya ng malakas na pagyanig ng lupa, paggalaw at biglang pagbabago sa sea level, o kakaibang ugong ng dagat at agad na lumikas sa mataas na lugar nang hindi na hinihintay ang official advisories.

“LGUs must implement minimum critical actions outlined in the L!STONG Pamayanan Tsunami Toolkit. For distant tsunamis, preemptive evacuation in coastal and low-lying areas must be conducted. For local tsunamis, immediate forced evacuation must be enforced. In both cases, evacuees must stay in designated centers until the tsunami warning is lifted.”

“For earthquake preparedness, the DILG reminds communities to expect aftershocks and to practice the “Drop, Cover, and Hold” protocol. LGUs must deploy engineering teams to inspect critical infrastructure and prohibit the reoccupation of damaged structures unless declared safe.”

The public is also reminded to refrain from spreading unverified information and to rely solely on official updates from DOST–PHIVOLCS, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and local DRRM offices.

(JESSE RUIZ)