The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), represented by Disaster Response and Management Group Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, joined the nation in the Second Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) in Mandaluyong City on Thursday (June 8).

As co-chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the DSWD promotes the importance of disaster preparedness, especially before the occurrence of a tremor as the country is known to be earthquake-prone.

“No one can be spared from the effects of these calamities, but we can prepare and capacitate people to the best of our abilities,” Undersecretary Cajipe said as she delivered the message of Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

“In this context, I strongly hope that the second quarter NSED will be a great opportunity for all of us to further intensify our efforts in finding ways for a more effective engagement and resource complementation in disaster risk reduction by preparing for the ‘big one’. We have come far, yet, we still have a long way to go,” the DRMG undersecretary pointed out.

Simulating a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, the combined efforts of the different response teams such as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Health (DOH), in ensuring the safety and security of the public, providing medical and triage services and in the conduct of the search and rescue retrieval were showcased.

At the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, officials and employees also performed the duck, cover and hold in support of the nationwide earthquake drill.

Spearheaded by the NDRRMC, the nationwide drill was aimed at promoting and instilling earthquake preparedness on the public’s mind as well as in all government agencies as the country is known to be earthquake-prone.#