NANAWAGAN ang Department of National Defense, at Office of Civil Defense, ang operating arms ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, na seryosohin at suportahan ang Fourth Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill.

Nakapokus ang huling NSED ngayong 2024 sa posibleng pananalasa ng malahiganteng tsunami na magaganap kasunod ng malakas na paglindol o “The Big One”.

Hinikayat ng DND at OCD ang sambayanan (public and private sectors) na makiisa sa Fourth Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED). “This year, the drill will have a special focus on simulation exercises addressing not only earthquakes but also potential tsunami and volcanic eruption scenarios, given the presence of Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin,” sa gaganaping earthquake drill.

Binigyang diin ni Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. ang kritikal na pangangailangan para sa paghahanda, “As a nation, we must acknowledge our vulnerability not only to typhoons but also to multi-hazard scenarios. Earthquakes, in particular, pose a unique risk as they can strike without any warning. This drill is more than just an exercise; it is a vital part of our national resilience strategy. We must be ready to face any disaster, as preparedness is our strongest defense.”

Halos ganito rin ang nagging panawagan ni Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, “Today’s drill serves as a reminder that we must be proactive in our disaster preparedness efforts. With the increasing frequency of natural hazards, it is imperative that both government and private sectors work together to enhance our community resilience. This drill is an opportunity for us to practice our response to simultaneous disasters and ensure we are equipped to protect ourselves.”

Nakiisa sa isinagawang earthquake drill mula sa national level, sina Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, na siya ring Executive Director ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Administrator ng Office of Civil Defense.

Kabilang din sa dadalo sina Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, MD, FPOGS, mula sa Disaster Response Management Group ng Department of Social Welfare and Development; Director Yvette Tolentino Sunga, CESO V, Regional Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government for Region X.

Makikibahagi rin sina Regional Director Romela N. Ratilla, CESO III, mula sa Department of Science and Technology in Region X, kasama si Ms. Ma. Antonia V. Bornas, Chief Science Research Specialist mula sa DOST-PHIVOLCS.

Gayundin, lalahok ang maraming lungsod sa bansa sa kanilang respective drills, kabilang ang evacuation exercises sa Quezon City, Parañaque, Makati, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, at Pasay. (JESSE KABEL RUIZ)