Makati City urges building, school administrators to hold quake drills, info drives

MAKATI CITY, March 15 (PIA) -- Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay issued a directive to all building administrators and school administrators in the city to immediately conduct an information drive and earthquake drills as proactive measures to reduce the overall vulnerability of the city should a strong earthquake occur.

The mayor also directed the City Engineering Department to immediately inspect all public buildings and infrastructure facilities in the city to determine their structural soundness.

The directives came in the wake of an 8.9-magnitude temblor and a gigantic tsunami that have wrought untold devastation on Japan and put its citizens, visitors, and migrant workers at risk of a nuclear meltdown.

“In light of the devastating earthquake in Japan, there is an urgent need for all sectors in Makati to step up disaster mitigation efforts and intensify public awareness on how to properly act to ascertain their safety in case of a similar emergency,” Binay said.

In a letter to David Balangue, president and chairman of the Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA), Binay requested all building administrators in the Central Business District to prioritize an information drive to heighten the awareness of tenants and clients of their respective evacuation plans and show them how these are implemented through earthquake drills.

At present, there are 2,466 buildings in Makati, the country’s financial center.

The mayor likewise directed DepEd-National Capital Region OIC and DepEd Makati superintendent Elena Ruiz to require all public and private schools in the city to do the same to better prepare schoolchildren and students, faculty, and other school personnel for a timely and orderly evacuation should a strong earthquake hit the city.

The same directive was issued to University of Makati president Tomas Lopez.

Binay encouraged all concerned sectors to coordinate with the Makati City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council at 870-1228 on current standard operating procedures to be followed in the event of a strong earthquake.