OCD leads inspection of areas along fault lines

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday led the inspection of areas situated along fault lines in Quezon City and Pasig as part of the government’s preparations for “the Big One.”

OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto as well as representatives of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Department of Social Welfare and Development and local disaster risk reduction and management offices led the activity dubbed “Walk the Fault.”

They inspected the Batasan-San Mateo Road in Quezon City, Canley Road in Pasig and other communities situated along the West Valley Fault.

Nepomuceno said the inspection is part of the OCD’s efforts to study and develop a more concrete plan to prepare communities that may be affected in case a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocks Metro Manila.

“We checked if the markers of the fault are present and visible, and if there are still infrastructure directly affected by the fault,” he said in a statement.

The OCD aims to make Quezon City and Pasig models for disaster and preparedness response of local government units.

“Walk the Fault” is part of Oplan Metro Yakal Plus, a contingency plan of Metro Manila and preparations for “the Big One” to reduce casualties during a powerful earthquake.