Outgoing Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento today called on all local government units (LGUs) to participate in this year’s 2nd Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) dubbed 2nd #Pagyanig Challenge to be held on June 22, 2016 at 9:00 o’clock in the morning.
Secretary Sarmiento, who is also concurrent Vice Chair for Disaster Preparedness, said the 2nd quarter drill ceremonial launching will take place at the General Headquarters (GHQ) Grandstand, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
This year’s NSED’s hashtag (#Pagyanig challenge) is aimed at developing a “culture of preparedness” among Filipinos by educating them on how to properly respond to calamities such as strong earthquakes.
The National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) for Earthquake and Tsunami and OPLAN Metro Yakal PLUS, were prepared in collaboration with the different government agencies, civic and international humanitarian organizations including the DILG.
Most of the local government units (LGUs) in the country have their own operational plan and/or manual for disaster preparedness and response, and the drill will confirm the consistency between the NDRP and the manuals or unwritten protocols of each LGU or organization.
“We need to validate through periodic executions the related manuals to make sure that our plans are effective and efficient,” he said.
He acknowledged that the success of any drill depends on the effectiveness of information dissemination, and urged all sectors concerned to help amplify the information drive to encourage more participants to the nationwide drill, which was mandated by law to be conducted quarterly every year.
Sarmiento expressed optimism that with a unified communication plan to be carried out by the DILG alongside the NDRRMC like Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and other national agencies, a higher public awareness and preparedness against earthquake hazards could be achieved.
Just like the 1st quarter NSED #Pagyanig Challenge, the focused was around government agencies and interested individuals who accepted the challenge of demonstrating the proper “duck, cover and hold” response through their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
In line with this, the DILG is reiterating the invitation posted by the OCD to private and public agencies, including those with social media accounts to take the #Pagyanig challenge by following these steps:
Like the OCD’s official facebook page: Civil Defense PH.
Show your commitment to the conduct of the 1st quarter NSED by posting a video saying: I accept the #Pagyanig Challenge or a photo with the fan sign ‘I accept the #Pagyanig Challenge.”
Tag us on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same.
On June 22, share with us your earthquake drill experience by posting your photo or video on social media doing the “duck, cover, hold with #Pagyanig hashtag.” (DILG)
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