Q1 nationwide quake drill set for March 13, 2025 —OCD

The Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for the first quarter of 2025 will be conducted on March 13 with more components involved, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced on Wednesday.

In a statement, the OCD said a ceremonial event will be held in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna to launch "enhanced components" of the drill and to demonstrate the readiness of the city, nearby local government units, and the regional disaster risk reduction and management council (RDRRMC) in Calabarzon.

Other key highlights in the event in Sta. Rosa include expanded participation, airlift support from MIMAROPA, communication exercise, and full-scale exercise.

This quarter’s drill will include participation from special education schools (SPED), the Laguna Technohub Association, Angkas, and the Armed Forces Reserve Force.

The assisting RDRRMC from Mimaropa will be airlifted from Batangas City to Sta. Rosa City to support the Regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Incident Management Team for better operational capabilities.

On March 12, an exercise will be held focusing on communication and EOC activation, emphasizing the importance of coordination among various agencies during emergencies.

Meanwhile, on March 13, the full-scale exercise will conducted with various scenarios such as:

• Aerial Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA)
• Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Response
• Crisis Situations and Security Response (CSSR), 
• jailbreak scenarios, 
• crashed vehicle extrication and rescue
• evacuation of school children with learning difficulties. 

The OCD said motorcycle taxi firm Angkas will provide communication support and first aid response, while the Biñan government will also offer response support.

“This quarter’s NSED not only showcases our commitment to enhancing disaster preparedness but also underscores the importance of collaboration among government, private sector, and community stakeholders,” OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said.

“By integrating diverse resources and expertise, we can build a more resilient and responsive disaster management framework,” he added. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA Integrated News