By PR | 08:46 AM September 03, 2025
Bohol, the country’s first and only UNESCO Global Geopark, has been selected as the pilot area for Region 7 in the conduct of the 3rd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) scheduled on September 11, 2025.
Ahead of the activity, the Provincial Government of Bohol, through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), held an orientation on Tuesday, September 2, at JJ’s Seafood Village in Tagbilaran City.
The session was attended by designated first aiders, search-and-rescue personnel from different provincial offices, and members of the Provincial Safety Force.
The province’s selection as a pilot site is based on its documented seismic vulnerability, exposure to multiple hazards, critical infrastructure, and well-established disaster risk reduction and management systems.
Bohol is traversed by four active faults: the North Bohol Fault, also known as the Inabanga Fault, the East Bohol Fault, the Maribojoc Fault, and the North Mindanao Sea Fault.
These geological features, combined with the province’s past experiences such as the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 2013, highlight the importance of continuous preparedness.
In his welcome remarks, PDRRMO head Dr. Anthony Damalerio underscored the need for teamwork in disaster readiness.
“We need to coordinate, we need to be prepared,” he said.
Provincial Human Resource Management and Development Office (PHRMDO) Head Anne Mariquit Oppus also challenged participants to take the exercise seriously.
“Let us make September 11 a day when we can tell ourselves that we are ready, despite and in spite of everything,” she added.
The orientation included several technical sessions. Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-7 representative Dennis Atto gave a comprehensive briefing on the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill and earthquake-related risks.
Arjay Migriño of PDRRMO explained the phases of the drill and the roles of participating offices, while colleague Darwin Bernasor discussed the existing disaster management systems of the province.
Architect Filoteo Asoy II presented the evacuation plans and routes for the Bohol Provincial Capitol, which will serve as a focal point in the upcoming drill.
On the day of the NSED, five regional offices will evaluate the readiness and preparedness of the Provincial Government of Bohol.
The results of the evaluation are expected to further strengthen Bohol’s disaster resilience strategies and provide models that can be adopted by other local government units in Central Visayas.
By serving as Region 7’s pilot site for the 3rd Quarter NSED, Bohol reaffirms its commitment to disaster preparedness and community safety.
The activity is designed not only to test immediate response but also to embed a culture of readiness that will help safeguard lives and infrastructure when an actual earthquake strikes. (PIMO/MAPI)
