SorSU-DRRMO spearheads 4th Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) 2023 across four campuses

Pursuant to Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Memorandum No. 130, series of 2023, entitled: “𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 “4𝘵𝘩 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 9, 2023”, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Memorandum No. 76, s. 2023, entitled: “𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 4𝘵𝘩 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭 (𝘕𝘚𝘌𝘋) 2023,” and SorSU-DRRMO Office Memorandum No. 14, s. 2023, Sorsogon State University – Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change (SorSU-DRR & CC) successfully organized the 4th Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) 2023 across four campuses of the University last November 9, 2023, where SorSU students as well as teaching and non-teaching personnel actively took part in the event from alarm phase to evacuation phase.

Headed by DRR & CC Coordinators — Mr. Christian Paulo B. De Vera (DRRMO Coordinator, Bulan Campus), Prof. Achilles G. Honasan (DRRMO Coordinator, Castilla Campus), Mr. Arvin Andes (DRRMO Coordinator, Magallanes Campus), and Prof. Mark Darrel A. Ergina (DRRMO Coordinator, Sorsogon City Campus) — the earthquake drills were simultaneously held in Bulan, Castilla, Magallanes, and Sorsogon City Campuses at 9 o’clock in the morning. The simulation activity involved the activation of alarm systems, prompting participants to follow the duck, cover, and hold protocol.

Prof. Saturnino F. Carranza (Director, SorSU DRR & CC) led the University DRRMO in monitoring and supervising the simultaneous drills across the four campuses.

The activity is in coordination with the respective Local DRRMO counterparts and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), together with the SorSU DRR & CC Team, Fire Brigade, and Health Services Unit of the University per campus. Meanwhile, SorSU-Sorsogon City Campus was also assisted by the Safety and Security Services Unit and Red Cross Youth Council (also in SorSU-Bulan Campus), as well as the SorSU-ROTC Unit and KAAGAPAY NSTP volunteers.

Moreover, the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Sorsogon City also extended support this 4th Quarter NSED to maintain crowd control in the SorSU-Sorsogon City Campus. The above-mentioned partner agencies and organizations further ensured the event’s efficient operation. Additionally, the simulation activities were also evaluated by the Local DRRMO counterparts and other partner agencies, contributing to the continuous improvement of the NSED execution.

In preparation for the event, a pre-orientation session was conducted on November 8, 2023 by the DRR & CC team, equipping concerned personnel with crucial information regarding the simulation process — from the alarm phase to the evacuation phase. SorSU-DRRMO’s proactive approach and collaborative efforts guaranteed the success of this essential safety drill. (SorSU PIO)