The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
ARMM commemorates 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake, Tsunami
COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao commemorated the 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake and Tsunami and this coincided with the multi-hazard simulation drill conducted by the ARMM'S Office of Civil Defense at the Awang Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province.
The drill was done in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, ARMM’S Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Cotabato City Regional Medical Center and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“The drill is a venue to enhance the preparedness of the communities around the affected areas in case destructive events occur. We could also assess the response capability of various government agencies, even private and volunteer responders,” said Myrna Angot, officer-in-charge of OCD-ARMM.
She said the objectives of the drill were to understand the impact of a major earthquake particularly a potential 7.9 magnitude generated by the Cotabato Trench; to understand the command government’s four-point and control plan on disaster preparedness mechanisms at all levels namely public based on R.A. 10121 and information, education, existing contingency communication, and disaster plans; to test, assess, validate response. and evaluate the The earthquake on actual ground set-up of August 17, 1976, generated the local emergency operation by movement along centers and the Cotabato Trench hit communication system, the island of Mindanao. and to strengthen and The off-shore earthquake align all existing concept produced a massive tsunami of response cluster particularly killing about 6,000 with the first people making it the response. most disastrous tsunami
“During the disaster, to hit the country. life-protecting actions In a post-disaster report must be taken immediately, by the Philippine so this drill will also Institute of Volcanology help the responders to and Seismology, waves as act as quickly as possible,” high as nine meters she said. struck the town of Lebak
The other participating in Sultan Kudarat. It inundated responders were the almost all Philippine Coast Guard, coastal towns of provinces Philippine National Police-scenes bordering Moro of Crime Gulf namely Zamboanga Officers (PNP-SOCO), Sibugay, Zamboanga del Pnp-regional Health Sur, Lanao del Norte, Service, Pnp-regional Lanao del Sur, Public Safety Battalion, Maguindanao, Sultan Philippine Red Cross, Kudarat, Sarangani, Bangsamoro Response Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi Team, Bureau of Fire Protection-emergency and the cities of Cotabato and Zamboanga. Medical Services, Office After last week's drill, of the Provincial Fire ARMM Governor Mujiv Marshall-maguindanao, Hataman, and Regional Philippine Air Force-tactical Executive Secretary Atty. Operations Group Laisa Alamia attended XII, and the Cotabato the evaluation and assessment City Disaster Risk Reduction of the exercise and Management at the 6th Infantry Division, Office. Camp Siongco in
Angot said the activity Datu Odin Sinsuat, also conforms with Maguindanao. the national Pinaghahanap na ng mga awtoridad ang 2 lalaki na umano’y pumatay sa isang security guard sa Zamboanga City.
Binurdaha ng saksak ng mga suspek ang katawan ni Julio Marales habang nagbabantay ito sa kanyang puwesto. Natagpuan ang duguang bangkay nito sa labas ng Atomic Solution. Ayon sa pulisya, nawawala ang wallet, cell phone at motorsiklo ni Morales at posibleng tinangay ng mga salarin.
Nakunan ng CC TV sa lugar ang krimen at doon ay nabatid ng pulisya kung ano ang naganap. Hindi pa mabatid kung nakilala na ang mga salarin.