TAGUM CITY, PILOT AREA FOR QUAKE DRILL

OCD 11 spearheaded the risk reduction activity in the city as Tagum is considered as the most populous component city in Mindanao

Davao del Norte - Tagum City became the pilot area for the community-based national simultaneous earthquake drill (NSED) in Davao Region.

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) 11 spearheaded member agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (RDRRM) Council in running the 3rd Quarter NSED at Purok 8, Barangay San Miguel, Tagum City on August 8.

Barangay San Miguel was noted as a flood-prone area but OCD 11 Regional Director Luis Manuel Ochotorena brushed aside the difference in types of calamity that the area was prone because he was interested on how the residents would execute their evacuation plan.

In giving priority to Tagum City as the chosen site of the 3rd quarter NSED, OCD 11 noted Tagum as the “most populous component city in Mindanao,” with 259,444 population based on 2015 census.

Supported by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Davao del Norte, the NSED drew the presence of Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib who manifested support for the national government's initiatives especially regarding risk reduction management.

In an interview, Jubahib said the provincial government already had the necessary equipment and staff to provide disaster response, and the system had already been put in place.

Basing on meetings with other provincial governors , he also said that the provincial government could access the assistance of the League of Provincial Governors during calamities “just like what happened to Batanes” which recently suffered the effects of a strong earthquake.

On the other hand, Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, represented by CDRRM officer Lecrecio Diuda, urged constituents to equip themselves with knowledge on how to adapt and respond to changing times and on how brace themselves during disaster.

“Laging Tandaan, Lamang ang May Alam,” (Always remember, the one who has knowledge has the edge) he said.

He cautioned them from panicking noting such reaction would result in more damage and casualty while he pointed out the need to seriously take the drill as an exercise on how to respond to possible scenarios, during the onset of a natural calamity such as an earthquake./