TUMANDOK CARES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
EB Magalona joins nationwide earthquake drill to boost disaster preparedness

By: JOEL PINEDA JAQUINTA

With the aim to increase public knowledge and awareness on disaster preparedness and response, the Municipality of EB Magalona participated in the nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill spearheaded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on February 21, 2019. Hundreds of municipal employees, headed by Mayor Marvin Malacon, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), national government employees, Department of Education (DepEd) family and students, barangay officials and residents took part in the said activity.

students of Tomongtong Elementary School during the simutaneous earthquake drill. (Photos: Miss Lira Diaz- Solen of Tomongtong Elementary School)

            Mayor Malacon, who is also the Chairperson of the EB Magalona Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC), expressed great gratitude to all those who joined the significant undertaking. He specially extended thanks to those who exerted efforts to make the drill successful and Saravia a safer place to live in, including the PNP-EB Magalona headed by PSINP Jaynick Bermudez, BFP-EB Magalona headed SFO3 Pablo Parra, LDRRM Office headed by Eric Empestan, DepEd family headed by EB Magalona District Supervisor Angeles Verdeprado with Mr. Rey P. Gonzales, the Head Teacher of Tomongtong Elementary School and DepEd EB Magalona DRRM Focal Person.

            “As a ‘Tumandok’ Saraviahanon, it is among our priorities to make sure our homes, communities, and schools are safer and peaceful. That is why we are further enhancing our programs on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), and Peace and Order as part of our ‘TUMANDOK CARES’ Development Agenda,” Mayor Malacon said.

Employees of the Municipality of EB Magalona other with PNP, BFP and LDRRMO during the simultaneous earthquake drill. (Photos: Miss Lira Diaz- Solen of Tomongtong Elementary School)

"The welfare and well-being of our students and faculty are of utmost importance. That is why DepEd supports the program on DRRM by establishing DRRM mechanisms in every school with designated DRRM Focal Person," Mr. Rey P. Gonzales, Head Teacher of Tomongtong Elementary School and DepEd EB Magalona DRRM Focal Person said.

The drill seeks to test the efficiency of the preparedness, response, and recovery plans, systems, and policies to evaluate the effectiveness of contingency plans, to test the coordination and communication mechanism during response operations, and to understand the command and control mechanisms in emergency and disaster operations at the LDRMMC.