EDITORIAL

Conduct Disaster Drills To Mitigate Damage

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". This is an established principle everybody believes. For one to believe it is to forewarn himself. This is most applicable in cases of diseases prevention. One must avoid doing something to prevent the occurrence of disease such as avoiding over eating to minimize if not prevent obesity or some heart diseases.
But there are things that cannot be prevented, even predicted. Earthquakes, floods, tsunami and many other natural disasters cannot be detected.
What people can do is to mitigate its effects, minimize its damages to both lives and properties. Understanding the things to be done in case a disaster happens like volcanic eruption, flood and typhoon will minimize its negative effects.
For these reasons, two schools in Kalibo, Aklan – one public and one private served as pilot sites for the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) spearheaded an earthquake drill synchronized with the Nationwide Earthquake Drill last week.
The selection of the two schools was agreed upon at the orientation and briefing called by Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez at the ABL Sports Complex recently. The members of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, MDCCs of the seventeen towns of Aklan, DepEd-Aklan officials, representatives of transport, major business establishments, heads of concerned government agencies and the local media attended the briefing.
According to Ret. Maj. Paquito S. Saratiosa, PDCC-Aklan Action Officer, the conduct of Nationwide Earthquake Drill after the opening of school year 2006-2007 is necessary to mitigate the effects of disasters like earthquake.
The provincial and school officials of Aklan hoped the conduct of this drill will be useful in the event an earthquake strikes Aklan and have minimal damages. The failure of agencies concerned to conduct preparedness training on what to do during earthquakes will result to more heavy damage.
"The holding of an earthquake drill in schools is important so pupils, students and teachers will know what to do during and after an earthquake," stressed Maj. Saratiosa.
He also said Aklan is prone to earthquake, being on the path of Tablas and Negros Faultline.
"The earthquake drill is very essential as some Aklan schools and establishments have three-storey buildings already. This drill will test the awareness and preparedness of school administrators, principals and school populace as well as the owners of big business and transport establishments in Kalibo," Saratiosa further said.
Saratiosa appealed to school officials and business establishments to inform their pupils and students – and employees and customers on the part of business establishments about the earthquake drill last week. He urged them to send at least five observers to the earthquake drill being conducted in the selected schools in Kalibo – the Kalibo Pilot Elementary School (KPES) and the Garcia College of Technology (GCT).
Aside from earthquakes, Saratiosa also warned Aklanons that the province has some parts prone to landslides and soil liquefaction. He also said all the coastal municipalities of the province are prone to tsunamis.
An Incident Command System (ICS) and Mass Incident Casualty Management (MICM) are also mandated to be integrated in the actual drill. (PIA/VGVillanueva) /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com