Davao City put its nighttime earthquake preparedness to the test as disaster responders, students, employees, tenants, and other stakeholders participated in an earthquake simulation at major establishments across the city at 8 p.m. on Friday as part of the 2026 Third Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED).
The Office of Civil Defense 11 (OCD 11), as chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 11 (RDRRMC 11), in collaboration with the Davao City Government through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), led the regional observance, with Davao City serving as the pilot area.
The nighttime simulation was conducted at Gaisano Mall of Davao, San Pedro College, and San Pedro Hospital, testing how institutions and emergency responders would react to an earthquake when people are still actively working, studying, conducting business, seeking services, and moving around the city.
OCD 11 said the exercise highlighted the need for disaster preparedness beyond daytime operations, particularly as strong earthquakes can strike without warning at any hour.
Participants practiced the essential “Duck, Cover, and Hold” protocol before evacuating to their respective pre-identified assembly areas.
The exercise went beyond evacuation drills, with simulated incidents involving a fire, chemical spillage, and structural collapse used to test the response mechanisms, coordination, and interoperability of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and participating institutions.
OCD Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV led the ceremonial pressing of the button at 2 p.m. at the OCD-RDRRMC 11 Conference Room, formally commencing the regional observance.
He was joined by OCD 11 Regional Director Ednar G. Dayanghirang; Davao CDRRMO Head Alfredo T. Baloran; San Pedro Hospital of Davao City, Inc. President Sr. Ma. Sonia B. Venus; DSG Sons Group (Gaisano Mall of Davao) Security Manager Peter Laurence Pardillo; and San Pedro College Director for Community Engagement and Extension Services Remark T. Mortalla.
OCD said the nighttime exercise underscored the importance of ensuring that emergency procedures are understood and practiced even outside regular working and school hours.
OCD also said that for disaster authorities, regular and realistic drills provide an opportunity to identify gaps, strengthen coordination among responders and institutions, familiarize people with evacuation routes and assembly areas, and build confidence to respond quickly during an actual earthquake.
OCD added that the exercise reinforced a basic but critical lesson: earthquakes do not choose a convenient time to strike, and preparedness cannot be limited to daylight hours.
