Hence, the collective verdict of “excellence” from the observer-graders from the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Bureau of Fire Protection offices of Mexico and the City of San Fernando, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Information Agency and the Pampanga Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office.
At the first signal of the earthquake, workers inside the mall took protective positions – squatting away from glass panels and by strong posts with their hands over their heads; at an all-clear signal, the workers made and orderly evacuation to the mall’s exit points and assembled at the open parking lot where first responders of medical teams have set up emergency tents.
Rescuers – including safety engineers — then entered the mall to seek the and retrieve the casualties where they are brought to the emergency tents for first aid. An ambulance is on the ready to transport those with serious injuries to the nearest operational medical facilities.
In the case of fire, the first response came from the mall workers with their fire extinguishers and the mall’s own fire-fighting systems. Within five minutes arrived the firetruck from the BFP-Mexico station, immediately putting the conflagration under control.
Keenly noted by the observer-graders was the “ideal response time” in both the earthquake and fire drill. Also cited was the priority given in the evacuation to persons with disabilities, the elderly and pregnant women.
“Every year, for the past six years, SM City Pampanga raises the level of its performance in its fire and earthquake drills,” said the OCD representative. “Mallgoers really feel safe and secure here. Like me, who is from Nueva Ecija but come to shop here.”
