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Saturday, July 5, 2025
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OCD suggests readiness to reduce quake disasters

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Saturday strongly recommended earthquake preparedness, warning the people to “brace for the inevitable.”

Speaking at Security Bank’s First Quarter 2025 Townhall, OCD chief Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of a potential seismic disaster.

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He warned that a potential magnitude 7.2-earthquake along the West Valley Fault could hit Metro Manila with devastating consequences.

According to government data, such an event could result in the loss of 30,000 to 52,000 lives, injure at least 160,000 people, and displacing millions.

“We must prepare now,” Nepomuceno stressed. “In a scenario like that, hospitals will be overwhelmed. The most effective way to save lives is to start preparing today.”

Nepomuceno outlined three critical pillars of earthquake preparedness, starting with engineering solutions. He highlighted the importance of strict compliance with the National Building Code, ensuring structures are built to withstand at least a magnitude 8.5 tremor.

“Compliance with the National Building Code is non-negotiable,” he declared.

The OCD, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and private sector engineers, is taking steps to enhance the quality of construction materials and eliminate substandard imports, particularly steel rebars. He also emphasized the importance of avoiding construction in no-build zones like fault lines and landslide-prone areas.

To empower communities, Nepomuceno recommended the use of HazardHunterPH, a digital platform that identifies geohazards and supports safer development planning.

Nepomuceno also underscored personal safety measures, particularly the “Duck, Cover, and Hold” technique. He explained that this method, proven to save lives during the critical first seconds of an earthquake, can help individuals avoid falling debris and maintain balance.

Beyond drills, he urged families and workplaces to create concrete emergency plans that include evacuation routes, designated meet-up points, and safe open spaces. These preparations are especially vital in the event of communication network failures.

Acknowledging the country’s limited resources compared to more developed nations like Japan which has over 12,000 trained earthquake responders, Nepomuceno assured the public that the OCD is ramping up capacity-building initiatives.

He outlined ongoing collaborations with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Red Cross, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other agencies. These partnerships aim to increase the number of trained responders and establish a unified roster of deployable personnel and assets.

The OCD is also expanding partnerships with reserve forces, college volunteers through the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) and the National Service Training Program (NSTP), as well as private organizations like the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and ARISE Philippines.

“Our goal is to expand, organize, and build capacity,” Nepomuceno said. “But remember, the first responders to save lives during an earthquake will ultimately be the people themselves.”

He thanked the Security Bank for the opportunity to raise awareness. “Preparedness begins with awareness. Gatherings like this are essential to building a culture of resilience,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of individual and collective responsibility in reducing the impact of earthquakes through proactive preparation, community awareness, and strict adherence to safety standards.

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