April 18, 2023

Pinaalalahanan ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ang mga local government units (LGUs) at DILG Regional Offices sa buong bansa na pinapayagan na ang in-person o pisikal na pagdaraos ng National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) matapos ang tatlong taong suspensyon buhat ng COVID-19 pandemic.

Sa isang Advisory, binigyang-diin ng DILG na muli nang pinapayagan ang pisikal na pagsasagawa ng NSED, alinsunod sa kautusan ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“Pursuant to NDRRMC Memorandum No. 006 s. 2023, dated February 01, 2023, the conduct of in-person NSED is already allowed, provided ‘that the minimum health protocols, such as, but not limited to, handwashing and social distancing are strictly implemented as much as practicable, to ensure effective, efficient and safe implementation of the NSED,” ani DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo L. Iringan sa naturang advisory.

Sa nasabing Advisory, inatasan ang mga LGUs at DILG Regional Offices na magtalaga ng kani-kanilang Safety and Health Officers na sisiguro sa pagpapatupad ng minimum health protocols laban sa COVID-19 habang isinasagawa ang simultaneous earthquake drill.

“The active participation of all disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMCs), including the barangay DRRM committees, is strongly encouraged,” dagdag ni Iringan.

Inoorganisa ng NDRRMC ang quarterly NSED na naglalayong itaas ang kamalayan at kahandaan ng publiko sakaling magkaroon ng lindol.

Isinagawa ang 1st Quarter NSED noong Marso 09, 2023; habang nakatakda naman ang 2nd Quarter NSED sa Hunyo 08; 3rd Quarter NSED sa Setyembre 07; at 4th Quarter NSED sa Nobyembre 09.

Bilang Vice-Chair ng Disaster Preparedness ng NDRRMC, ang DILG ay inaasahang palakasin ang kapasidad ng mga LGU at gabayan sila sa pagbuo ng disaster preparedness and resiliency measures sa kanilang mga lokalidad.

Ayon kay DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr., magandang pagkakataon ang NSED upang subukan ang kahusayan at pagiging kapaki-pakinabang ng mga disaster response measures ng mga LGU.

“Because of our location, our country is among the most vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes. This is why our LGUs should prioritize programs aimed at strengthening their disaster risk reduction and management,” ani Abalos.

“Kaya naman umaasa ang aming Kagawaran na aktibong makikilahok ang mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagdaraos ng quarterly NSED upang magkaroon ng culture of disaster resilience ang mga komunidad,” dagdag ng Kalihim.

Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-sa-LGUs-In-person-earthquake-drill-pinapayagan-na/NC-2023-1059