San Jose del Monte City to stage shake drill on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines -To replicate the earthquake drill in Metro Manila, the local government of San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan will stage on September 3 a similar mock quake scenario in the city.

 

Around 7 a.m. tomorrow, all school bells, door bells, church bells, sirens and vehicle horns will simultaneously blare away signaling the start of the city’s earthquake simulation exercise.

 

Along with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and city government officials and personnel, around 500,000 residents are expected to participate in the earthquake drill.   

 

MMDA estimated that around 6.5 million people recently participated in the simulation exercise in Metro Manila. 

 

"We have managed to step up the level of awareness and culture disaster preparedness of our people to a certain degree that everybody from both the government and private sectors continue to surge with their drive to show cooperation and assistance to help one another survive an earthquake and other exigencies," Tolentino said,

 

The first scenario of the earthquake simulation exercise will include a magnitude 7.2 tremor hitting the West Valley Fault and an approximate intensity 8 is being felt in the city. 

 

Based on the map of the Valley Fault System released by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the West Valley Fault also transects portions of Bulacan, including San Jose del Monte City.

 

Other phases of the city's shake drill will also include alarm and intensity ground shaking, evacuation, assembly, roll call/fire suppression and rescue operation.

 

MMDA rescue personnel will serve as evaluators of the exercise.