In a continued effort to strengthen its disaster preparedness and safety culture, the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) mobilized over 3,000 employees, contractors, and partners for the Fourth Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The large-scale simulation, held at the Meralco Operating Center in Pasig City, replicated a magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault, colloquially referred to as “The Big One.” The exercise aimed to assess Meralco’s emergency response capabilities, evaluate its business continuity systems, and boost employee confidence in handling large-scale disasters.

Led by Meralco’s Business Continuity Management team, the drill was the company’s first full-scale simulation without pre-positioned resources, designed to mirror a realistic post-quake scenario. The exercise involved multiple complex operations including high-angle rescue, fire suppression, mass casualty triage, and collapsed structure recovery.

Beyond the standard “duck, cover, and hold” routine, participants conducted structural damage assessments, activated business continuity plans, and established emergency infrastructure such as an incident command post, emergency operations center, field hospital, mobile kitchen, and evacuation areas.

To ensure uninterrupted coordination during emergencies, Meralco simulated communication protocols with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and internal sector offices using satellite phones. The company also set up temporary offices and facilities to accommodate displaced personnel.

Observers from the Office of Civil Defense–National Capital Region, the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation were on site to evaluate the exercise.

“The successful conduct of our full-scale earthquake simulation exercise for ‘The Big One’ underscores Meralco’s unwavering commitment to safety and resilience,” said Ronnie L. Aperocho, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “By rigorously testing our emergency response and business continuity measures under realistic conditions, we have strengthened our capability to protect our people, sustain critical operations, and support the communities we serve during disasters. This exercise is a vital step in ensuring that Meralco remains prepared for any eventuality.”