Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso urged the city’s 100 zone chairmen to draw up their own community-based preparedness plans and hold regular simulation exercises to protect residents from the catastrophic effects of a major earthquake.
Speaking before the zone leaders, Domagoso said the City Government has been ramping up disaster-readiness programs but emphasized that true preparedness must begin at the grassroots level.
“Come up with a plan,” the mayor told them. “Gumawa kayo ng paraan, paano natin mapapalabas ang taong-bayan at maging bahagi sila ng kasanayan.”
He cited scientific warnings that Metro Manila could suffer massive casualties should the so-called “Big One,” a magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault, strike the metropolis.
“The projected numbers in Metro Manila, eh medyo hindi maganda.”
“Mga siyentipiko na ang nagsasabi na magkakaroon ng casualty,” Domagoso said. “The problem is the numbers, the projected numbers in Metro Manila, eh medyo hindi maganda.”
He reminded the zone chairmen that public service demands both courage and sacrifice, particularly during disasters.
“Tayo’y may pamilya, walang masama (na isiping unahin natin sila),” Domagoso said. “Pero at the end of the day, may obligasyon tayo sa taong bayan. Sometimes, pamilya natin ang nasasakripisyo.”
He called on them to reflect on their role as elected officials entrusted with the safety of their constituents.
Domagoso also encouraged the zone leaders to begin small but coordinated efforts by holding dialogues with barangay officials and residents to determine possible response mechanisms.
“Ano ba ang pwedeng gawin ng bawat sona, in unison. Doon tayo magsimula, sa nucleus.”
“Kayo na ang tinouch ko para na sa ganun, malaman ninyo ano ba ang pwedeng gawin ng bawat sona, in unison. Doon tayo magsimula, sa nucleus,” he said.
Domagoso also advised them to organize zone-level earthquake drills at varying times of the day to simulate real-life unpredictability.
“This thing can happen early morning, late afternoon, o kaya madaling araw,” he said. “You can conduct drills in the morning, afternoon, linggo, o kung kailan ninyo gusto.”
Domagoso closed his message by reminding the chairmen that disaster preparedness is not the sole duty of government personnel but a shared responsibility of the whole community.
“I cannot just do it on my own,” he said. “I need everyone’s help.”
