TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) joins forces with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Tacloban City to conduct the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for the first quarter of the year, held on March 13, 2025.
Spearheaded by TCDEO’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) aided by Senior Fire Officer 1 (SFO1) Rowena C. Bulawan, SFO1 Jayvee Arandia, and Fire Officer 1 (FO1) Adriane Niña Vinculado from BFP Tacloban, the drill focused on ensuring that TCDEO employees are thoroughly prepared and equipped to respond efficiently during seismic events.
Following the drill, an evaluation meeting was convened attended by SFO1 Rowena C. Bulawan, SFO1 Jayvee Arandia, FO1 Adriane Niña Vinculado, and TCDEO’s Emergency Response Team. During this session, BFP personnel provided a thorough review of the drill’s performance, discussing both its strengths and areas in need of improvement. A primary focus of the meeting was the prompt activation of the Fire Brigade Team, which was identified as important in ensuring rapid response during real-life seismic scenarios. The evaluators also noted that the Emergency Brigade Team must undergo proper training to further their knowledge in responding to emergency situations such as earthquakes.
District Engineer Rebecca G. Yuse explained the critical role these drills play in ensuring overall preparedness. She noted, “Regular drills are essential to maintain the readiness and safety of our office and staff. They serve not only as practical training sessions but also as opportunities to review and refine our emergency response procedures. By simulating real-life seismic events, we can pinpoint potential gaps in our strategies and improve our coordination.”
(PUBLIC INFORMATION UNIT)
