NDRRMC cancels first quarter quake drill

March 10, 2020

  Following President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of a state of public health emergency, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) cancelled this year's first quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) scheduled Thursday.

In a memorandum issued on Tuesday, the NDRRMC annouced the cancellation of the drill.

"The conduct of calendar year 2020 first quarter NSED on March 12, 2020 at 2pm is hereby cancelled to ensure public of the drill participants and to prevent the possible risk of contracting Covid-19," the memorandum signed by NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said.

"All chairpersons and members of DRRMC at the national, regional, provicial, city, municipal level and barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees, head of the national government agencies, constitutional offices, state universities, collages, government owned and/or controlled corporations and private stakeholders are hereby advised to undertake maximum and continues precautionary measures prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH)," it added.

Amid the growing number of cases of Covid-19 in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Presidential Proclamation no. 922 declaring the state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines.

The quake drill is part of the government's preparation for the possible occurance of a tremor with at least a 7.2 magnitude that may hit Metro Manila.

The quake drill that is being led by the NDRRMC every quarter is joined by the government employees, schools and university personnel and students, private establishments and others. Robina Asido/DMS