MMDA leads this year’s shake drill

Another “shake drill” will be staged in Metro Manila before the end of the month.

But Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Jojo Garcia said that to keep the simulation more realistic, the agency would not reveal the exact date of the three-day activity.

He said, “No one can predict when an earthquake will happen. We must be prepared at all times so we want the shake drill unannounced. We will not be announcing the exact date of the shake drill. The public will only be informed on the day of the drill.”

Garcia said this year’s shake drill will be in coordination with the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MMDRRMC). This year’s goal is to sustain and improve the public’s awareness and consciousness in case a major earthquake occurs.

“We want to do a shake drill in a more realistic environment,” he pointed out.

Michael Salalima, Metro Manila Shake Drill Secretariat head, said telecommunication networks would broadcast the drill through SMS messages to its subscribers on a specific day.

Companies, churches, schools, and institutions are urged to sound their own alerts or bells while radio stations will air an alert to signal the start of the drill at 3 pm.