What motorists can expect for July 30 earthquake drill

SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL DRILL Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino explains the expected scenario during the July 30 metrowide earthquake drill in his briefing for the Inquirer in Makati City on Wednesday. REM ZAMORA

The Metro Manila Shake Drill will be held on July 30, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. It’s an exercise to prepare for “the Big One”—a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on the West Valley Fault that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) says is likely to hit the capital anytime. The Metro Manila Shake Drill calls for the simulation of different emergency scenarios in the aftermath of a powerful quake to develop “a culture of preparedness” among residents. It will be conducted simultaneously in various parts of Metro Manila.

The drill will start with a 30-second voice recording broadcast with the MMDA and Phivolcs announcing the one-hour quake simulation.

In the audio message, Tolentino and Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum will inform the public that the sound of the sirens, ambulances and rumbling quake signals the start of the exercise simulating the movement of the West Valley Fault.

After the message, an audio of people screaming, sirens, ambulances, ground shaking , falling of buildings and explosions can be heard and everyone is expected to perform their 45-second drill while specific scenarios will be done in identified places on the four quadrants under Oplan Metro Yakal from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The staging areas are the Intramuros golf course (fire scenario) on the west, Veterans Memorial Medical Center golf course (medical triage and relief operation) on the north, Villamor golf course (debris cleaning) for the south sector and the LRT 2 Santolan Depot (fallen structure) on the east.

The MMDA said that participating schools, malls, churches, government agencies, businesses and other organizations can also download the audio file from the Metro Manila Shake Drill website and play this on their public announcement systems during the drill.

For the nighttime drill on Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, Tolentino warned the public that power will be cut in the area during the simulation from 8 to 9:30 p.m. He also advised motorists to expect heavy traffic along Julia Vargas to San Miguel Avenues and other portions of Ortigas.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said airport and railway operations will continue despite the drill.

No disruption

In a statement, the DOTC said operations will not be disrupted even as personnel for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 as well as Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 will participate in the drill.

The LRT 2 Depot in Santolan will also serve as one of the evacuation camps for the East quadrant, where mock exercises will be held, the DOTC said.

Apart from observing the 45-second “duck, cover, and hold” procedure once sirens sound off tomorrow, employees of the DOTC and its attached agencies have been implementing measures to ensure the safety and welfare of passengers in the event of a major earthquake.

The Manila International Airport Authority will distribute information campaign materials to passengers at all Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals, although airline operations will not be interrupted.

The Philippine Coast Guard will deploy one search and rescue vessel, 50 rescue personnel, five rubber boats, medical teams and divers during the drill exercises. The Philippine Ports Authority offices and Port of Manila operators will also participate in the drill and assure passengers that minimal interruption in port operations will be felt.

Traffic advisory signs have been posted on Ayala Avenue, informing motorists that the CBD’s outermost lane would be closed for the duration of the drill. Motorists may use alternative routes.

A separate nighttime drill will be held at the Ortigas Business District in Pasig City on the same day, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. -Maricar B. Brizuela, with reports from Jerry E. Esplanada, Miguel Camus and Tina G. Santos