𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐋 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐖𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐋
The Cebu Provincial Capitol joined the nationwide earthquake drill at 3:30 p.m. on March 12, with officials and employees participating in the emergency preparedness exercise.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro, along with at least 20 mayors and several regional heads of national government agencies, temporarily paused an important meeting on provincial price monitoring to take part in the drill.
Under the guidance of personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the governor and mayors—together with Capitol officials and employees—performed the standard “duck, cover, and hold” procedure before safely evacuating their respective areas and assembling at the Capitol grounds and other designated evacuation sites.
The 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill aims to strengthen disaster preparedness among government officials and employees, ensuring they know how to respond quickly and safely in the event of a real earthquake. Regular exercises like this help build awareness, reduce panic during emergencies, and ultimately save lives.
Designated as the regional pilot area for this quarter’s exercise, the Capitol grounds became the focal point for disaster preparedness in Central Visayas, testing the efficiency and coordination of the local government’s emergency protocols.
The exercise began promptly at 3:30 p.m. following a formal directive issued by the Provincial Administrator’s Office in compliance with NDRRMC Memorandum No. 15, series of 2026. All employees, department heads, and office leaders vacated their desks to participate in the simulated disaster response, moving quickly toward eight designated evacuation areas. These sites included the Statue of Osmeña area, Lapu-Lapu Statue Area, The façade of the Provincial Capitol, the main parking lot, Legislative Building, the Old PDRRMO 1 site, the gravel parking area, and the basketball court.
Following the evacuation, a comprehensive after-drill evaluation was conducted, headed by the Office of Civil Defense. A diverse group of government agencies attended the session to review the performance of the provincial government, including representatives from Lapu-Lapu Rescue, the Government Emergency Commission, the Department of Health, PHIVOLCS, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. The evaluation session was designed to identify critical improvement plans for the province’s disaster management infrastructure. During the discussions, the DILG reiterated the fundamental importance of protecting the head and the neck during the initial moments of a seismic event, noting that these quick actions are the most effective way to prevent serious injury.
As the regional pilot area, the data gathered from today’s drill and the subsequent agency evaluation will be used to refine disaster management strategies for government agencies throughout the region, ensuring the province remains resilient and prepared for future emergencies. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶, 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝑬, 𝒀𝑱𝑩
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