The Procurement Service - Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) heeds the call of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to equip communities including workplaces with disaster preparedness and resilience as it participated in the 3rd Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) today, September 7, 2023.
With the guidance of the PS-DBM Crisis Management Committee (CMC), the agency’s officials, personnel, and transacting client-agencies took part in all phases of the earthquake drill, including the prominent “duck, cover, and hold” practice as they headed to the designated evacuation areas.
To vacate in an orderly manner, a copy of evacuation plans and procedures was disseminated among the PS-DBM workforce prior to the drill, along with reminders on the safety protocols that must be observed during an earthquake.
“Lagi po tayong maging ready… Kahit wala tayo sa office, kahit sa bahay po natin… magamit po natin 'yong natututunan natin from this drill,” said Mr. Jeffrey M. Bertumen, member of the PS-DBM CMC Prevention and Preparedness Team, during a quick huddle which echoed the importance of the activity.
The quarterly conduct of earthquake drills every year is aimed at raising awareness and preparing the public in the event of a potential earthquake.