The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is all set for the second Metro Manila Shake Drill tomorrow, June 22, 2016 at 9 o’clock in the morning.
MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos said all the agency’s personnel and participants are enjoined to perform the “duck, cover and hold.” Critical scenarios, such as fire, collapsed bridges and buildings, and derailment of trains, will also be simulated to see how rescue teams react and respond.
“We are making sure that no stone is left unturned to guarantee that the 2nd Shake Drill will be equally successful and that all the challenges and problems encountered last year are now properly addressed,” Carlos said.
Meanwhile, MMDA recently partnered with Open Garden’s FireChat mobile app to further strengthen disaster preparedness in the country.
“We are very interested in exploring how FireChat Alerts can help maintain vital communication lines between the MMDA and the citizens of Metro Manila during an event of this scale. Deploying this technology during a preparedness drill is the perfect way to understand its potential,” the MMDA chief explained.
Open Garden’s Head of Global Marketing Ms. Marina Azcarate also stressed the importance of information in times of disaster.
“It is a great honor to be working with the MMDA in a cross-sector effort to increase preparedness by rolling out a new technology that could help save many lives,” Azcarate said.
To maximize the coverage and efficiency of the peer-to-peer network, the MMDA encourages all citizens, including LGU officials and volunteers, as well as private sector partners, to download FireChat, the free messaging app, on their Android or iOS smartphone. FireChat is available for free at: http://firech.at/MMShakeDrill
FireChat is a free messaging app, available on iOS and Android devices. Built on revolutionary peer-to-peer mesh networking technology, FireChat allows people to communicate privately or publicly, with other people “offline” even if they cannot connect to the Internet or to a cellular phone network.
The earthquake drill will be held simultaneously in Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna. It is aimed to raise awareness and promote preparedness should a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. (MMDA/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)
– See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/241466412587/mmda-all-set-for-2nd-mm-shake-drill-partners-with-firechat#sthash.7q0lKHCb.dpuf
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