Mandaue Central School joins nationwide earthquake drill

A pupil of the Mandaue City Central School acts as an injured victim during an earthquake drill yesterday, which is part of a simultaneous nationwide activity.
(CDN PHOTO/ANIE PAUJANA)

They will never be prepared enough for earthquakes.

But students of the Mandaue City Central School are still thankful for the drill conducted yesterday as it gave them an idea on what to do in case a high-intensity earthquake strikes.

“We cannot predict earthquakes but at least we have an idea on what should be done in case it strikes,” 12-year-old JC-Ray Bellen said.

Bellen is a Grade 6 student and a member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP).

He and 4,465 pupils of the school went through the drill for over two minutes and 30 seconds.

The school was chosen as the pilot school for the simultaneous nationwide quake drill yesterday.

The drill was a program of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of the Civil Defense Office.

When the alarm was heard, students who were having classes hid under their tables before a signal to vacate the classroom was given by the teacher.

Students went out of their classrooms to the school’s open space covering their heads.

Bellen, who carried a stretcher to rescue a student acting as an injured victim, said he felt honored.

Their principal, Giovanna Raffinan said teachers and BSP members were clustered into different teams — search and rescue, medical, transportation and evacuation.

But Raffinan admitted that they still have to improve a lot of things in their preparation.

She promised to change their alarm system after Mark Banares of the Bureau of Fire Protection Mandaue City commented that their alarm was not audible.

She also said they will install signage at the evacuation areas.

They will also improve their narrow doors and staircases to avoid stampede during earthquakes and other calamities.

Related Stories:

Slight tremor hit Bohol, Cebu