The Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) rallied the private sector to extend full support for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Metro Manila Shake Drill today at 10:30AM.
The largest metro-wide earthquake drill divided the National Capital Region (NCR) into four quadrants, each of which was assigned a particular scenario and conveners from large business sectors. The West Quadrant included Manila, Navotas and Malabon and focused on widespread fire. The East Quadrant, which concentrated on collapsed structures, comprised Marikina and Pasig.
Quezon City, Caloocan, Valenzuela, San Juan and Mandaluyong took up the North Quadrant with search and rescue as its scenario. The South Quadrant encompassed Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Taguig, Muntinlupa and Pateros and focused on debris cleaning.
Serving as the main coordination center among all four quadrants was Aseana City in Parañaque, where PDRF set up its own booth near the MMDA command station. Among other protocols and simulation, the booth had the necessary communications equipment including satellite communication with its partners from Clark, Baguio, the United States and NAIA general aviation.
PDRF also deployed its volunteers for the MMDA drill as well as rescue and search operations in specific areas. It tied up with Shell to conduct the fire simulation in the West Quadrant.
These activities are alongside the Disaster Operation Center that PDRF is building near the Clark Airport to coordinate the private sector response to major calamities. A total of 52 private sector companies have already pledged to contribute their expertise in facilitating metro-wide preparedness and recovery efforts and sustaining the critical economic lifelines.
“The goal of this large-scale MMDA earthquake drill is to take our disaster management preparations to the highest level,” PDRF President Rene “Butch” S. Meily said. “We have our partners, equipment, simulation and people with specific roles as victims, rescuers and communication personnel. We don’t have control over when and to what extent calamity will strike, so the best we can do is to maximize the preparations that are within our control.”
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