The Security and Safety Office (SSO) of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs and the College of Development Communication (CDC) participated in the 3rd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on Sept. 8.
The drill simulated emergency evacuation, search and rescue, and medical response and highlighted the preparedness and readiness of the personnel in handling calamity, disaster, or any emergency situation.
The siren sounded at exactly 9 a.m., signaling the beginning of the simulation of actions during a 7.2-magnitude earthquake.
The CDC personnel immediately vacated their respective offices and classrooms and gathered in an open area, simulating “duck, cover, and hold.”
Jonathan D. Maliwat, special police assistant chief of the Crisis and Emergency Response Unit of the SSO acted as the exercise controller and directed the activation of the Incident Command System (ICS).
Maliwat explained that ICS is a model for command, control and coordination of emergency response at the site level. CDC’s Occupational Health, Safety, and Emergency Committee led by faculty member Garry Jay S. Montemayor and the rest of the faculty and staff participated by acting out roles given the scenario.
Also present during the drill were Dr. Mark Dondi M. Arboleda, officer-in-charge of the SSO and two representatives of the University Health Service.
After the drill, Dr. Ma. Stella C. Tirol, dean of CDC, thanked all the personnel who participated in the earthquake drill. (Pamela Mai Arquiza)
This article was originally published on the UPLB website.