NOTHING can beat if everyone is working together to achieve one goal, especially so when the interest of the people is at stake.
Over the years, those in public service particularly the local government units (LGUs) have been consistently partnering with the concerned private individuals and groups like the business and industrial sector to further sharpen response and preparedness against natural disasters like earthquakes.
That’s the same thing the city governments of Caloocan and Valenzuela under the leadership of Mayor Along Malapitan and Wes Gatchalian, respectively, have been doing and collaborating with the shopping malls in their turf.
Mall and local government authorities were fully aware about the need for them to work together since these establishments are always frequented by a large number of shop-goers and their safety and security would always be compromised in the absence of well-prepared strategies and plans in case an earthquake occurs.
For one, both Malapitan and Gatchalian were all praises for the SM Mall management specifically at SM Sangandaan and Grand Central in Caloocan and SM City in Valenzuela for reinforcing their commitment to disaster preparedness with their 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill held just late last week.
The drill was staged before regular mall hours to ensure the safety of tenants and employees while maintaining uninterrupted mall operations, it was learned.
A loud siren echoed through the mall premises, signaling the start of the nationwide exercise.
Tenants and employees immediately followed standard protocols, executing the ‘duck, cover, and hold maneuver in response to the simulated 7.2 magnitude earthquake.
The earthquake drill went beyond routine exercises, incorporating evacuation and rescue simulations designed to test the capabilities of each mall’s Emergency Response Group (ERG).
These included first aid response and complex rescue scenarios to ensure swift, coordinated action in the event of a real disaster.
Each mall also conducted refresher training on earthquake preparedness for staff, tenants, and affiliates. Sessions covered worst-case scenarios, evacuation routes, and basic life-saving techniques, strengthening the culture of readiness across all departments.
With the increasing frequency of seismic events in the region, the earthquake drill forms part of SM’s broader commitment to safety and resilience in partnership with Local Government and National agencies, its management said.
