Mallgoers in Lucena City experienced hands-on disaster preparedness activities, including rappelling and basic life support demonstrations, during a two-day static display at SM City Lucena.
The event, held from Thursday to Friday, was a collaborative effort by the Quezon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, AFP-Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and SM City Lucena.
The event, organized by the PDRRMO, is part of the celebration of July as National Disaster Resilience Month, according to Dr. Melchor Avenilla, head of the office.
In a Friday interview, Avenilla expressed his belief that most Quezon residents are prepared to face any disaster, noting that his office regularly conducts earthquake drills and other life-saving training.
“Our biggest challenge is to stress to our citizens the seriousness of such drills. They tend to treat drills as a ‘mundane matter,’ but if we can get 50 out of 100 participants seriously regarding the drill, that is an accomplishment enough for us,” Avenilla said.
He recounted that when a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Gen. Nakar town a few weeks prior, the public’s learned practice of “duck, cover, and hold” kicked in, resulting in zero casualties in both government and private establishments.
Avenilla added that his office is equipped to conduct search and rescue operations on land, air, or water, and his personnel are on “office duty” during calamity situations. He mentioned that, instead of hazard pay, his personnel are provided with insurance for their own safety, pending national law implementation. (PNA)
