OCD-ARMM conducts earthquake drill at MSU-Maguindanao

DALICAN, Maguindanao-- More than 4,000 students, faculty members and staff of Mindanao State University-Maguindanao and constituents of some barangays in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao participated in today's Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) 1st quarter 2017.The event was conducted inside the state university with the participants doing the duck, cover and hold technique, according to Myrna Angot, OCD-ARMM regional director. It was a successful event participated jointly by OCD-ARMM, MSU-Maguindanao administration and local residents, she said.She said representatives from various government agencies, both local and national, private organizations and the security sector of the government also participated as rescuers, medical responders and evaluators. Engr. Rainier Amilbahar of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs-Cotabato Station)stressed on the need to regularly practice the drill so people are informed and aware when the D-Day comes. The knowledge and proper execution of the duck-cover-hold technique is vital in a real earthquake incident, Amilbahar said.Dr. Bai Soraya Sinsuat, MSU Maguindanao chancellor, thanked the OCD-ARMM for the opportunity of being the venue of the NSED in ARMM. She appreciated the advocacy and the drive to massively disseminate this information to the MSU community. Image may contain people sitting table and indoor sand//scontent.fmnl8-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17629831_1208798592562475_3028439698959568339_n.jpg?oh=d0450f5db36fe5592f47ee0159fa6e26andampoe=59641193 We are grateful to OCD, to all agencies and volunteers who made this event possible. The students had learned a life-saving technique that they could share at home with their families, she said.Angot congratulated and thanked everyone for their meaningful participation.She said that the government thru the Office of Civil Defense will never waver on its effort to disseminate the necessary information that will help Filipinos to be always ready and prepared for emergency like earthquake. We, in OCD will always do our best in bringing the necessary information that will increase our capacity in disaster risk reduction and response, she said. We must all be ready for any disaster because being ready is always an advantage Bida ang Handa! , She added.As the activity ends,everyone in the drill simultaneously chantedand Sabay-sabay kaming nag-DUCK, COVER and HOLD sa ARMM. Image may contain 24 people people standing crowd and outdoor sand//scontent.fmnl8-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17553881_1208809202561414_7792541556184762838_n.jpg?oh=b437d832c3adb0c5eaf465ea63f35685andampoe=5961C91E Image may contain sky and outdoor sand//scontent.fmnl8-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17553854_1208798109229190_2135432786091914811_n.jpg?oh=2d1eca4b75037a042d5afc3d2d5bf510:ampoe=595F7819