Netizens ask: Why hold quake drill on martial law anniversary?

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Netizens ask: Why hold quake drill on martial law anniversary?
(UPDATED) Political rallies are also expected to be massive, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend government work and classes in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Why schedule the earthquake drill during the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines?

This is the question being raised by netizens, following the announcement of the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) about the 3rd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) scheduled on Thursday, September 21.

Netizens noticed that the drill, which was announced less than a week before the activity, was set on the same day of the country’s commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law 45 years ago. 

Office of Civil Defense Spokesperson Mina Marasigan, however, clarified that the earthquake drill to be held on Thursday does not intend to undermine or divert attention from the commemoration activities.

“We just thought of September 21, notwithstanding kung ano man ang sine-celebrate noong araw na iyon, kung ano man iyon ng history ang natatak doon,” she told the media on Monday. (We just thought of September 21 notwithstanding the historical events attached to that day.)

Marasigan further explained that the quarterly earthquake drill which aims to test the preparedness and workflows of all government units in case a strong earthquake strikes Metro Manila is usually held on the last month of each quarter. 

On Tuesday morning, September 19, NDRRMC announced that they will be postponing the earthquake drill following President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement to suspend government work and classes on Thursday. 

Netizens’ reaction

In a reply to the NDRRMC’s tweet, James Romer Vilena tweeted,”Pwede namang sa ibang araw ‘tong drill na ‘to ah kasi may mga rallies na scheduled on September 21 to commemorate Martial Law anniversary.” 

(Why not hold the earthquake drill the next day because there are scheduled rallies on September 21 to commemorate Martial Law anniversary.) 


In a tweet, Movement Against Tyranny said, “Earthquake drill on #September 21? No problem, says @TheMovementPHL convenor Sr Mary John Manazan. Quirino Grandstand best place to gather!”


 

Protesters from various activist groups are set to flood the streets of Metro Manila and cities around the country to condemn the ruthless human rights violations after dictator Ferdinand Marcos put the whole country under Martial Law on September 21, 1972. 

Political rallies are also expected to be massive, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend government work and classes in Metro Manila. He said that the day will be a “national day of protest.”

The movement of the West Valley Fault will cause a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that is estimated to kill about 35,000 people, a study suggests. (READ: INFOGRAPHIC: How powerful is a 7.2-magnitude earthquake?)

The NDRRMC urged netizens to harness social media in influencing their friends to participate in the earthquake drill. The official hashtag for this year’s third NSED is #BidaAngHanda. – Rappler.com

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