Capitol employees cover their heads while going towards the safe area outside of the Capitol building during Tuesday morning’s surprise earthquake drill. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
PROVINCIAL government employees were taken by surprise by the blaring alarm that signaled an earthquake drill had commenced at the Capitol Wednesday morning.
Despite initial confusion, over 600 employees reached their designated open areas outside of the building within five minutes.
Rhafael Luche, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) training officer, said the unannounced quake drill at the Capitol started at 8:45 a.m. and ended at 9:17 a.m.
“Only the security guards, the PDRRMO and the governor knew about the drill,” he said.
Wednesday is the national earthquake drill activity across the country. Luche said the employees took two minutes longer than the ideal time to evacuate from their areas to safety.
The designated areas are in the grounds in front of the main Capitol building near the flagpole as well as the open areas on the road in front of the legislative building.