The provincial government of Negros Oriental recently held an earthquake drill to correct what had been noted as the mostly unsafe response of employees during calamities.
Joy Gongob, Provincial Planning and Development officer and executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said that the PDRRMC had observed how most of the government workers had panicked and ignored basic earthquake safety measures at the height of the 6.9 magnitude tremor last month.
Some employees, who were already outside the buildings that are mostly four storeys high, ran back inside to fetch belongings they had left behind, a reaction deemed dangerous and not recommended by earthquake experts, she added.
Around 200 government employees gathered at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex in Dumaguete City for the safety lectures given by representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Volcanology and Seismology, and the Office of Civil Defense.
They then took part in the mock-earthquake response drill, Gongob added.
The PDRRMC is also planning to hold fire safety drills in succeeding weeks. Although the provincial government offices are equipped with fire extinguishers, Gongob admitted that most employees do not know how to use them.*RG
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