Metro Manila Earthquake Contingency Plan: Analytical Essay

Oplan Metro Yakal Plus

Oplan Metro Yakal Plus or Metro Manila Earthquake Contingency Plan shows how the government of Manila to make operation when an earthquake before and after strikes. This is formulated from the three general policies which are Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2013, RA No. 10121 of 2010, and RA 7924. In this plan shows evacuation area/camps that are divided into four quadrant which North, South, East, and West quadrants. Operations protocol which are composed of Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis(RDANA)/Situational Reports and Coordination; Response Mechanism; and Command and Control should be in accordance with the structure set during operations. The plan also includes the forecast damages and casualties with the worst case scenario. Different cooperating angencies that will managed different responsibilities to mitigate the risks. A standard operating procedure formulated that will be followed right after the Earthquake strikes. Communication and Warning plan are prepared in case of power outage and total disruption of all lines of communication. Providing safety and security after a 7.2 magnitude with intensity VIII earthquake. Conducting search and rescue and forecast damage by Intensity VIII earthquake. Relief and Camp management for 3 million displaced individual. Engineering, reconstruction and rehabilitation of essential structures. Transportation management of various needs of different sectors. Medication, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and mental health and psychosocial services are provided to the affected communities. Establishment of evacuation and management of the dead and missing families/individuals. Fire suppression caused by earthquake. Those are planned operations of Oplan Metro Yakal Plus. Procedures for feedback, upgrading and future action are also formulated to effectively create and improvise the plan (NDRRMC, 2015).

Generally, it illustrates operational procedures of various agencies, which gives us a holistic view of how to minimize the impat of 7.2 magniture earthquakes by organize and coordinate courses of action in order to prevent the loss of lives and property in a quick and orderly manner with the MMDRRMC and the NDRRMC at its helm, together with the support of the whole DRRM community.. (Gazmin, Pama, & Tolentino, 2015).

National Disaster Consciousness Month

In observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month, the Valenzuela City Disaster Preparedness Office (DPO) led a city-wide earthquake drill participated by public and private schools in Valenzuela on July 2. Over 147,000 elementary and high school students from both public and private schools participated in the said simultaneous exercise. This is in consonance to the announcement of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for a “Nationwide Earthquake Drill,” calling all local government units to hold their own earthquake drills in their respective areas. DPO Operations Chief for Warning and Training Roy Calingacion shared, “We made sure that all phases of the drill and protocols were observed so that the students will be prepared and will have the right mindset when the real situation comes.”

The earthquake drill involved two phases – the evacuation phase and the response phase. The evacuation phase had five components. These were (a) the alarm phase, (b) the response phase, (c) the evacuation phase, (d) the assembly phase, and (e) the headcount phase. The response phase on the other hand was intended for the rescue units, such as (a) the medical team, (b) the transportation team, (c) the security team, (d) the search and rescue team, and (e) the damage analysis and needs assessment team. These are supervised by the Chief of Operations.

A drill alarm started at 9:00 am in Dalandanan National High School (DNHS), one of the city’s high school campuses with a population of 4,800 students. Both the school personnel and the Valenzuela Rescue Team actively assisted the students who rushed to the open school grounds which is the designated evacuation area. Within 9 minutes after the alarm, all students were already in their stations while the teachers begin the headcount.

DNHS Principal Maxima Carlos said the earthquake drill is one of the quarterly drills that are being held in Valenzuela City schools. “We also conduct fire and flood drills. We do these to train the students as well as our school personnel,” Carlos said.

Earthquake Safety in the Workplace

When a high rise building is designed without earthquake protection, the building is designed to withstand its own weight as well as the weight of the contents, and hold up against wind. Earthquakes engineering adds other dimensions because the building must be able to hold together as it is shaken from side to side and up and down. The roof and walls are tied together so that the walls do not pull apart and allow the roof to fall. Some multi-storey buildings have been designed to be flexible while holding together. The building is designed to sway as a unit in a side to side motion. Without this planned flexibility, the various elements of a large building would move at different rates, creating additional stresses within the building that could weaken it to the point of collapse. During large earthquakes, expect windows to break, plaster and suspended ceilings to fall. If high rise buildings are designed to sway as they should during earthquakes, unsecured objects will slide around inside, particularly on the upper floors. That is why it is important to secure the furnishings of a high rise building. Anchoring pieces of furniture will prevent them from sliding back and forth, even acting as battering rams to break through windows or walls. Carpets may help reduce this action. Large windows above the fourth and fifth floor would have guard rails installed on the inside, and/ or shatter-resistant plastic film on the glass. (Workplace guide, 2011)

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Since the head of the country affected will have the full authority in assessing natural disasters, its responsibility is shared in its sub-branches and related units. Some local units can also involve in greater part of it such as providing support in the government.

According to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the role of stakeholders such as education can greatly help in risk assessment. From Part V Number 35 (b) it is stated there that “Academia, scientific and research entities and networks to focus on the disaster risk factors and scenarios, including emerging disaster risks, in the medium and long term; increase research for regional, national and local application; support action by local communities and authorities, and support the interface between policy and science for decision-making”

Impact of Natural Disasters on the Education Sector

In assessing to possible outcomes of natural risk or disasters, it focuses mainly in the damages in infrastructure, since its strength depends if that structure will withstand disasters, especially earthquakes. Education is the one key point to assess with it and has to be given greater attention. Such destruction leads to distraction to school activities since after disasters school premises is one of the structures used as an evacuation centre.

If the disaster happens, students are most possibly affected by its consequences. Time and Learning are cannot be brought back if this disaster will yield more damage. These damages assessments must be done as soonest as possible or else it may cause serious damage that could lead to a high effort assessment of the country affected.