Tacloban develops school-based quake preparedness measures

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 7-- The Department of Education (DepEd) field office here is bracing for impacts of earthquakes by training teachers and students on what to do before and during emergencies.

Several activities related to Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) have been lined up even before the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that rocked Eastern Visayas region on July 6.

The education department has been conducting earthquake drills, orientations on natural disasters, response training, among others. Non-government organizations provide first aid kits and other trainings. “We religiously conduct the earthquake drill because no one is ready when the earthquake comes and to have assimilation of the earthquake preparedness among the students and the personnel,” said DepEd Tacloban DRRM officer Ivannovich Agote.

In line with the celebration of National Disaster Resilience Month last July, DepEd also conducted simultaneous earthquake drills  which covered 15 central schools. The drills where carried out before the strong tremor hit Leyte  thus teachers and students applied their learning from the drills when disaster struck.

School committees have been leading the conduct of earthquake drills. They also mapped out evacuation plans and identify emergency exits.

Two big campuses in this city, the Leyte National High School (LNHS) and Rizal Central School (RCS), have activated their DRRM committees composed of teachers in charge of health, communication, and search and recovery.

“Our DRRM committees have been planning to hold different activities and preparations not only for earthquakes, but for other emergencies,” said LNHS disaster preparedness head, Jenilyn Daya.

The two schools also conducted DRRM trainings for selected students. Participants completed the hazard mapping and assisted other students in terms of disaster preparedness and response. RCS officials asked learners   to bring whistles to make distress call during emergency situations.

The schools have their standard evaluation forms based on DepEd Memorandum No. 48 issued in 2012. The directive outlines the quarterly conduct of the National School-Based Earthquake and Fire Drills.

The DepEd Tacloban office vowed to monitor and evaluate contingency plans and the implementation of the DRRM activities in the campus level. (SQM/With reports by Angelica N. Royo,OJT/PNA)