PHIVOLCS satisfied with public's earthquake awareness

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) expressed satisfaction that more people are knowledgeable about earthquake response in the wake of the magnitude 4.6 temblor that hit Quezon Province on Tuesday.

In Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras,” MRT-3, LRT-1, and LRT-2 operations were temporarily halted as the earthquake was also felt in some parts of Metro Manila past noon.

Train tracks were inspected before the resumption of operations.

After the earthquake, employees in the Senate, Malacañang, House of Representatives, Commission on Elections, and the Department of Justice were seen calmly evacuating.

According to PHIVOLCS, the earthquake's epicenter was located 25 kilometers from General Nakar, Quezon. It lasted for seconds.

There have also been no reported casualties or damaged properties so far.

“Ang source po nito ay tectonic. So, may gumalaw po na fault. Hindi natin alam kung anong fault ito. Pwede po natin tawagin local fault. Ibig sabihin local dun sa lugar na iyon. Wala naman po itong kinalaman sa mga paggalaw na iba pang faults,” said Winchelle Ian Sevilla, PHIVOLCS seismology division chief.

(The source is tectonic. A fault moved, but we do not know which fault. We can call this a local fault, meaning it is local to the area. It is not related to the movement of other faults.)

PHIVOLCS said it is pleased that more people are aware of what to do during an earthquake.

“Mahalaga po dito ang ating mga paghahanda, lalo na ang pakikilahok po natin sa mga earthquake drills upang at least aware po tayo kung ano ang nararapat natin gawin kung sakaling magkakaroon ng isang malakas na lindol. Kailangan natin masigurado na yung ating mga built structures, halimbawa po bahay, buildings, mga hospitals, ito po ay sound po. Ibig sabihin matibay sumunod po sa building code,” Sevilla said.

(It's important to prepare, especially in participating in the earthquake drills to at least be aware of what to do should there be an earthquake. We also need to ensure that our structures are sound, sturdy, and follow the building code.)

The Office of Civil Defense has been preparing for a strong earthquake, or the Big One, that may affect the eastern section of Metro Manila once there is a massive movement in the West Valley Fault. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News