THE ATENEO is gearing up for “The Big One.”
Students and faculty alike participated in the Metro Manila Shake Drill spearheaded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) on June 22.
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
The drill was seen as an improvement over last year’s exercises. However, the past year saw more participants within the campus.
The #MMShakeDrill was headed by Assistant to the Vice President to the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Milet Tendero, and Office of Student Services (OSS) Director Cholo Malilin.
The LS Emergency Assistance Team oversaw the drills within the campus, and coordinated efforts between the different Local Emergency Response Teams (LUERTs).
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
Improved performance, few “casualties”
According to Tendero, the LS Emergency Assistance Team saw positive developments over last year’s drill.
“My general assessment of the drill was successful– We have over 2000 [Loyola Schools] participants in the drill, and less than 1% non-participants,” said Tendero.
Tendero said that the entire Loyola Schools took an average of 26 minutes to evacuate to the respective fields. However, the individual buildings of the LS took around 5 to 6 minutes to evacuate.
Tendero said that the drills were a way to prepare the university as it anticipates “The Big One,” or the 7.2 magnitude earthquake due to happen along the West Valley Fault.
“The drill is a synchronized exercise– when the real thing comes, there will be no drill anymore,” she said.
Photo by Quita Chuatico.
This year also saw a total of 172 casualties during the earthquake drill.
“Casualties” refer to persons who refused to participate, were uninformed about the drill, or were otherwise unable to participate in the evacuation exercise.
A total of 9,709 persons participated in the shake drill.
Photo by Gab R. Mesina.
Precarious position
The Ateneo lies along the West Valley Fault, a 100-kilometer fault line that extends from Dinaglan, Aurora, and crosses several major cities in Metro Manila, including Marikina and Quezon City.
School officials have expressed concern through the years over the safety of the university, and have undertaken disaster risk management efforts.
“The purpose of this drill is to make more people alert, and familiar with the exercises and the areas that they need to go in case of evacuation,” Tendero said.
