INIHAYAG ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang kahalagahan ng kahandaan at maayos na latag ng disaster response at relief operation sakaling tumama ang kinatatakutang magnitude 7.2 earthquake o “The Big One” sa Pilipinas.
Ito ang inihayag ni Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Undersecretary Diana Rose S. Cajipe kung saan binigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng preparedness and coordination sa ginanap na paglulunsad ng 3rd Quarter 2025 National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) noong Huwebes sa Camp Aguinaldo kasama ang mga opisyal ng Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense at Armed Forces of the Philippine.
Si Cajipe kasama si DND Undersecretary Irineo Espino, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), at iba pang civil defense officials, ay pinangunahan ang earthquake drill sa pamamagitan ng pagpindot sa ceremonial button, na siyang hudyat ng opisyal na pagsisimula ng 3rd Quarter 2025 NSED.
Dito ay nakiisa ang AFP para palakasin ang kanilang Disaster Preparedness, hindi para mailigtas ang kanilang mga sarili kundi magresponde sa inaasahang emergency requirements.
Ayon kay AFP PIO chief, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, “The drill tested the coordination and operational capabilities of the NDRRMC, Local DRRM Councils, and partner agencies across the National Capital Region. It focused on immediate response actions, emergency communications, inter-agency collaboration, logistical operations, and urban search and rescue procedures.”
Pinakilos naman ni Philippine Army chief. Lt. Gen Antonio G. Nafarrete, ang Hukbong Katihan sa buong bansa para rebisahin ang kanilang kahandaan na tumugon at magsagawa ng simulated evacuation at first aid operations sakaling magkatotoo ang kinatatakutang “The Big One”.
“The activity aimed to evaluate the response and recovery plans of every Army unit and adjust them appropriately when presented with new challenges during earthquakes,” ani Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala.
(JESSE RUIZ)
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