Quake drill won’t disrupt operations of ports, airports, public transport

Operation of sea ports, airports, rail lines and other public transport facilities will not be interrupted during the metrowide earthquake drill today.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) assured commuters that public transport will not be paralyzed while government and private sectors participate in a drill to prepare citizens on what to do when a powerful earthquake hits Metro Manila.

In a statement, the DOTC said operation of the Light Rail Transit lines 1 and 2, Metro Rail Transit 3, and the Philippine National Railways will operate on its normal schedule today. This is despite the fact that the LRT 2 depot in Santolan, Pasig will serve as one of the evacuation camps when the "Big One" strikes.

Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said airline operations across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will not be affected by the drill. MIAA said NAIA airport personnel have been conducting table top exercises for earthquake protocols even before the drill. Instead, information campaign materials about earthquakes will be distributed to passengers in all four terminals at NAIA.

For its part, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said operators of ports in Manila assured travelers that only minimal interruption in port operations will be felt even if port personnel will also participate in the drill.

As part of its participation during the drill, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Manila Team will deploy one search and rescue vessel, 50 rescue personnel, five rubber boats, medical teams and divers during the drill exercises.