Senate holds earthquake, fire drill

The Senate on Monday morning temporarily suspended its committee hearings as it conducted an earthquake and fire drill, following the series of strong tremors that hit various parts of the country. 

The drill began at exactly 11 a.m., with an earthquake alarm, which prompted staff, guests, and members of the media to evacuate the Senate building at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) complex in Pasay City. 

Personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) also performed a simulation of rescue operations in case there would be people trapped in the building and needed medical attention. 

“Dahil sunod sunod, sa Cebu, sa Davao, so maganda nang safe at alam natin kung ano ang gagawin kung magkaroon ng earthquake, lalo na ang The Big One kasi ‘yun ang pinaguusapan dito,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said in an ambush interview. 

(It’s better for us to be safe and know what to do because of the series of earthquakes, like those in Cebu and Davao, especially the potential ‘Big One.’) 

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, temporarily suspended the deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways when the drill started. 

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon welcomed the conduct of the earthquake and fire drill at the Senate. 

“Tama ‘yan nagdi-drill para mabilis ang paglabas ng mga tao. Tapos kailangan syempre i-assess natin ‘yung mga buildings. Kausap ko ‘yung ating bagong OIC sa technical services, kailangan talaga ‘yung mga public buildings, ma-assess,” Dizon said in a separate ambush interview.

(It’s right to conduct drills so the people know how to evacuate. It is also important for us to assess the public buildings.) 

The Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform also suspended its hearing for a while. 

Both committees resumed the hearings when the drill ended before 12 noon. 

The drills were conducted as part of the preparations for potential powerful earthquakes, including the so-called “Big One,” a projected magnitude 7.2 earthquake that may hit Metro Manila and nearby areas. —AOL, GMA Integrated News