Are we prepared?

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake that shook Samar and Surigao last Friday has forced government officials and scientists to ask the question: What if an earthquake of the same intensity had hit Metro Manila instead? Is the nation’s capital adequately prepared for a big quake?

Consider that in 2004 a joint study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the Metro Manila Development Authority, estimated a worst-case scenario where 170,000 residential homes will collapse, 34,000 people will die, and 114,000 will be injured. The report stated: “This human loss, together with properties and economy losses of Metropolitan Manila will be a national crisis”.

Executive Director Benito Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is upbeat about the government’s capability to respond to a disaster of such magnitude in Metro Manila while Enrico Mangao of Philvolcs believes otherwise, mostly due to the substandard quality and the general disarray of buildings in the capital city.

It is assuring that the government has taken steps to assess the vulnerability of Metro Manila to such a disaster, draw up contingency plans, train rescue teams and preposition vital equipment. All these plans are absolutely necessary considering the population density and the importance of the capital city to the nation.  But for those of us who do not live in the NCR, can the national and local government give us the same assurance that the necessary studies have been conducted and the appropriate contingency measures have been prepared for our respective areas?

If the NDRRMC is confident that they will be prepared if ever a powerful earthquake does hit Metro Manila, then our local government officials must also coordinate with the appropriate national government agencies to make sure that their areas are also as prepared because we are just as vulnerable to earthquakes as they are. Let’s not wait for one to show us just how unprepared we are.*