ANGELES CITY—The city government here under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. hosted its 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on March 09, 2023, reverting into a face-to-face simulation exercise after three years of virtual conduct of such drills due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO), led by Rudy Simeon, spearheaded the drill’s mechanics, evacuation process, and incident scenario of the anticipated “The BIG one” within the premises of the Angeles City Hall to test various elements of the evacuation plan designed by the ACDRRMO.
“Simulating the damaging effects of ‘The BIG one’ will train City Hall employees and its occupants to properly act during earthquakes,” said Simeon.
Mayor Lazatin asserted that Angeleños should be familiarized with the responses and proper actions to be done should calamities, like earthquakes, occur.
“Sibilyan man o rescuer, importante na praktisado tayo sa tamang initial response sakaling dumating ang kalamidad,” Lazatin said.
“Sinusukat ng mga drills na ito ang kahandaan at kung gaano kabilis rumesponde ang ating mga rescuers,” he added.
The Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Angeles City, City Health Office (CHO) and Civilian Security Unit (CSU) are among the initial responders during the simulation.
It could be remembered that Mayor Laztin awarded Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Trauma Bags to the 33 barangays and 47 public schools in the city in 2022 as part of his priority programs to encourage barangay officials and teachers to put priority on disaster prevention and preparedness.
The EMS Trauma Bags include gauze pads, cotton balls, alcohol swab, iodine swab stick, micropore tape, leucoplast, elastic bandage, tweezers, hot packs, cold packs, sam splint, trauma scissors, a set of oropharyngeal airway, bag valve mask, stethoscopes, pulse oximeter, thermal blanket, BP apparatus set, and thermometer.
Mayor Lazatin also ordered ACDRRMO to conduct basic life first aid training to public schools to ensure the students’ safety against emergencies within the school premises during a disaster.
