The provincial government of Sarangani will expand this year its disaster mitigation and preparedness activities to better prepare communities and residents against possible major disasters or calamities.
Rene Punzalan, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said Tuesday they are currently coordinating with the seven municipal governments for more community-based preparedness drills and simulation on various disasters, especially earthquakes.
He said the move is aimed to further increase awareness among residents on the necessary safety measures and protocols during disasters.
“It’s important for everyone to be aware and prepared. We should be serious with these drills to prevent panic and possible casualties,” he told reporters.
Some parts of the province have been experiencing mild to moderate flooding in the past several weeks due to the impact of the prevailing La Niña phenomenon, which is expected to last until March.
Last week, the province and other parts of Mindanao were jolted by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake but no recorded damage to properties.
The epicenter of the Jan. 21 quake, which was felt at Intensity 5 in the area, was traced in the seas about 231 kilometers southeast of Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental.
Punzalan said the quake, which was tectonic in origin, could have inflicted serious damage if it lasted longer.
Citing a report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), he said several offshore faults are being monitored in the seas off the Davao Region and the neighboring areas that could trigger more major earthquakes.
These faults, considered as extensions of the land-based fault lines, are connected with those monitored off Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental as cited by Nane Danlag, science research specialist of the Phivolcs station here.
Punzalan said residents should brace for the possible occurrence of more earthquake coming from the offshore faults.
He reiterated that the most effective strategy is still the observance of proper safety protocols, especially the “duck, cover and hold” principle. (PNA)
