Makati govt office hours cut short Friday for quake drill

Makati City government offices on Friday, July 29, will be open up to 3:00 p.m. only, to give way to a quake evacuation drill in the afternoon. In a news release on its web portal, the city government said the drill is one of its activities marking National Disaster Consciousness Month. The drill comes less than a week after a magnitude-5.9 quake in the Negros province area was felt in parts of Metro Manila. “I want our people to be well-trained in the proper way of dealing with disasters, especially a strong earthquake," Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said in a news release posted on the Makati City website. "We all need to be alert and prepared for such an occurrence to ensure that everyone will act calmly and responsibly, thus preventing panic that could aggravate a critical situation," he said. Binay directed Makati Command Control and Communication Center (C3) to designate and train people to act as floor marshals, team leaders, searchers, rescue and medical team members, and site security team members during evacuation procedures. He said the Makati C3 has prepared for the safe and orderly flow of the evacuation drill on Friday afternoon. "The said exercise is part of a series of activities lined up by the city government this July to increase the level of awareness among residents, workers, business owners and visitors on the importance of disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness," the city government said. Quake drill At 3:30 p.m., Makati Health Department ambulances will sound their sirens to signal the start of the evacuation drill. Electricity will be automatically shut down at the three buildings involved in the drill - the New Makati City Hall building, the Old Makati City Hall, and the MADAC building. The employees will be asked to assemble in front of the 7-Eleven store along Angono Street near Hormiga and Cardona Streets to watch the simulated rescue operations for ‘victims’ of the earthquake. Streets closed During the drill, F. Zobel Street, Angono Street, Cardona Street, Hormiga Street, and one lane of J.P. Rizal will be closed, and motorists going to Taft are advised to take the other lane of J.P. Rizal. At the end of the drill, the Makati Command Center, Makati Fire Department, Makati Rescue, Engineering Department, and Human Resource Development Office of Makati will evaluate the drill. - VVP, GMA News