Hey readers, Happy World Mental Health Day last 10 October!

Studies show that our mental health is as important as our physical health, hence, people who suffer from mental illness tend to have lower immunity, making it easier for them to fall sick, which affects their overall productivity.

Remember the formula: healthy mind + healthy body
— happy life. It is our duty to take care of our mental health. Have you ever had a bad mood you just couldn't shake? Well, it's time to shake it off!

Speaking of shaking, there have been a lot of recorded jolts in the country recently — from the magnitude 5.7 offshore earthquake that occurred in the Luzon Strait last 4 October to the magnitude 4.8 quake that rattled the island-province of Masbate and the magnitude 3.9 tremor in Davao del Sur last Tuesday evening.

Surely, we are literally being shaken, my friends. The question is: Are we ready for the big one? Is the government ready? Are the buildings and infrastructure projects earthquake proof? Well, your guess is as good as mine.

This week, the Philippines through the Philippine Ports Authority was selected as the venue for an international conference on Coastal and Port Engineers on 9 to 13 October. This aims to provide an international forum for engineers from developing countries and a venue for the exchange of experiences, especially on Waterborne Transport Infrastructure development.

International conferences like these will help the Philippines migrate to new technologies to combat the after effects of natural disasters like earthquakes and even climate change.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago specifically mentioned that in order to make sure that port infrastructure and facilities are ecologically sustainable, the PPA must ensure long term sustainable operations in a cost-efficient manner, particularly since resources are limited.

In port planning and the design of port facilities, the lateral force of earthquakes and other seismic activities is taken into consideration in the design analysis and subsequently the preparation of design plans.

Although most of our major ports are designed to withstand natural calamities and the impact of climate change, the magnitude 6.3 temblor that hit Calatagan, Batangas last 15 June and the earthquake that occurred in Batangas province in 2017 had given the PPA an idea of the structural integrity and resiliency of the facilities at the Port of Batangas, which is considered one of the country's 10 major ports.

Its feasibility study was undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1984 while the construction and implementation of Phases 1 and 2 were under foreign assisted projects. It is considered one of the Philippines' premiere ports and was designed to withstand impacts brought about by natural calamities and climate change.

To avoid disruption of cargo movements and to make sure that business continues even during earthquakes and natural calamities, constant rehabilitation and upgrading works are implemented. To ensure the readiness of its facilities and personnel during tremors, PPA holds quarterly earthquake drills.

I hope other government agencies are also prepared for the next big earthquake. As per my previous interviews with Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Teresito Bacolcol, the country is now more prepared in case the "Big One" occurs owing to the people's awareness gained from the government's regular earthquake drills and school-based earthquake lessons.

On a positive note, an earthquake is a shaking of the ground that is considered the planet's way of relieving stress on its outer surface.

What humans consider a deadly occurrence is an essential geologic function just like what a person needs when one is so stressed. Be that as it may, we must always be prepared for the next one… because we are in the same boat (shaking or not).