The Provincial Government of Bulacan has ordered the immediate inspection on the structural safety of educational institutions during the Joint PDRRMC and C/MDRRMOs Full Council Meeting on 5 November 2025, underscoring the necessity of a swift and decisive pivot toward maximum resilience.

According to Governor Daniel R. Fernando, aside from the inspection, the Provincial Government also plans to establish dedicated and open-site evacuation centers and institutionalization of earthquake drills.

The order stemmed after the assessing the updates from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and structural reports submitted by the Department of Education (DepEd) Bulacan.

In her presentation, Myleen C. Enriquez, Science Research Specialist of PHIVOLCS-DOST, highlighted the Philippines' position as one of the world's most seismically active regions, presenting the ‘Orientation on Recent Earthquake Events and Possible Impacts of the West Valley Fault’.

Enriquez said the West Valley Fault, which traverses nearby provinces, has not moved in approximately 400 years. She added that this raises the possibility of a major movement, heightening the risk of a significant movement that could trigger “The Big One.”

She also introduced PHIVOLCS tools such as GeoRiskPH, HazardHunterPH, and the “How Safe is My House”, helping citizens and local governments assess building safety and hazards in their areas, with more information available at phivolcs.dost.gov.ph.

“Natural ang lindol at iba pang sakuna, pero ang trahedya ay maaari nating maiwasan sa pamamagitan ng kahandaan at tamang pagtugon,” she reminded the participants.

According to DepEd Bulacan DRRM focal person Peter C. Lacap, some 287 of 412 elementary schools and 75 of 100 secondary schools have submitted building inspection reports conducted by municipal/ city engineers as of October 23, 2025.

In the said reports, 104 elementary and 36 secondary schools were tagged as unsafe, with 416 classrooms requiring major repair or further engineering validation.

DepEd Bulacan is now coordinating with LGUs for rapid validation and structural reinforcement, prioritizing the development of robust Learning Continuity Plans and updated earthquake contingency measures to mitigate risks to students and personnel.

While expressing gratitude that Bulacan was spared by recent weather events, Fernando stressed that this reprieve must be seized to accelerate pre-disaster operational readiness and established a clear and binding mandates for all local government units, including 1) Establishment of Designated Open Evacuation Sites: LGUs must immediately identify, mark, and publicize dedicated, open evacuation areas and appoint a primary contact person in each site for earthquake response management; 2) Swift Procurement and Distribution of Emergency essentials: The PGB will oversee the rapid distribution of flashlights, whistles with lanyard, water bottles, and vital emergency provisions; and 3) Institutionalizing Drills and Safety Protocols: A formal memorandum will be issued requiring the inclusion of earthquake drills in schools' daily morning activities.

The Provincial Government's action plan is focused on preemptive intervention to secure Bulacan’s future against predictable seismic threats, ensuring that preparedness is a continuous and operational state, not merely a reaction.