OCD leads nationwide earthquake drill with over 1,300 LGUs

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) invited the public sector to participate in a nationwide earthquake drill on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Over 1,300 local government units and the private sector joined simulations including damage assessment, hazardous materials response, search and rescue, jailbreak scenarios, and evacuation of school children with learning difficulties.

The ceremonial event in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna demonstrated readiness for a potential 'Big One' earthquake, focusing on diverse stakeholders such as special education schools, Laguna Technopark Inc., Enchanted Kingdom, Angkas, and the Armed Forces reserve force.

OCD chief Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized the need to assess national and local government capacities in responding to major earthquakes, highlighting the Philippines' low ranking in disaster preparedness according to a 2024 Harvard Humanitarian Initiative survey.

Social Welfare Undersecretary Diane Cajipe stressed that disaster preparation is not solely the responsibility of the government but also citizens, advocating for grassroots dissemination of information through social media.