Solon wants to make disaster preparedness drills mandatory at schools

A lawmaker has proposed a mandatory and regular conduct of disaster risk reduction drills in schools all over the country, amid renewed public interest in preparedness against calamities.

In filing House Bill 5722, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. stressed the importance of teaching children survival skills in times of distress, noting that the Philippines is prone to natural disasters.

He said the country is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, characterized by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and that destructive cyclones hit the country often because it is close to the equator.

“By mandating the regular annual conduct of disaster risk drills and instruction in all educational institutions, we are recognizing every child’s right to survival and protection, as well as to education and protection,” he said.

Under the measure, disaster risk reduction drills shall be held annually in all educational institutions throughout the country, in coordination with local government units.

The drills shall include practice and instruction concerning the location, use and operation of emergency exits, fire exits, extinguishers and other facilities provided for such purpose in buildings, as well as the proper evacuation of people from buildings in the event of fires, earthquakes and other hazardous phenomena.

Teachers and school personnel shall also be trained in assisting students evacuating from buildings in times of disasters.

Possible activity

Aside from imparting life-saving skills to students, Andaya said mandating the regular conduct of disaster risk reduction drills in schools will also strengthen students' preparedness to deal with calamities.

Interest in disaster preparedness has heightened since the release of the Valley Fault System (VFS) Atlas by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, which mapped the areas affected by earthquake faults in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

PHIVOLCS had warned the public against an impending seismic activity along the West Valley Fault, with movement possibly generating a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, almost as strong as the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Nepal last month, while the East Valley Fault could generate a magnitude 6.2 temblor.

HB 5722 provides that reports of all risk reduction drills shall be filed with the respective Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, indicating the time and date of each drill held.

School officials who refuse or fail to carry out the mandatory preparedness drill shall be given a warning for the first offense, and will be fined P10,000 for the second offense.

For the third time, an offender may face a P50,000 fine or imprisonment of not less than one month, but not more than six months, or both, depending on the court's decision. — Xianne Arcangel/LBG, GMA News