CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 3 (DILG R3) supervised by MED Chief Lerrie S. Hernandez, hosted a consultative meeting together with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) for the preparatory stage of the 7.2M Earthquake Contingency Plan, with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (PDRRMOs) in the region in attendance on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at Bliss Hotel, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.


In her opening remarks, DILG Assistant Regional Director Araceli A. San Jose urged the participants to stay focused and share their expertise with the group for the success of the consultative planning, considering the gravity of the subject matter.
Following this, Mr. Roberto B. Tiglao of PHIVOLCS presented the Metro Manila Earthquake Contingency Plan otherwise known as the Oplan Metro Yakal Plus. He discussed the systematic study conducted by the PHIVOLCS in determining the extent of the damage the looming West Valley Fault rupture will cause, and the subsequent measures drafted by the agency to counteract and respond to this impending disaster. He also stated that this plan could be used as an outline in drafting a contingency plan for the province. After his presentation, a question and answer portion ensued to address questions and concerns of the participants.
Mr. Amante Salvador of the MMDA followed where he tackled the other aspects of the impact of the 7.2M Earthquake and presented several other scenarios.
After the presentation of the simulation produced by PHIVOLCS with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a final presentation was delivered by MED Chief Hernandez where she discussed the importance of formulating a response plan for the 7.2M Earthquake and formulating an inventory of each province's resources that can be utilized when the "Big One" hits the region.
Concluding the event is a short but rousing speech from MED Chief Hernandez encouraging the assembly to be vigilant in disseminating the valuable knowledge they have just learned, stressing the importance of the time factor, where every second utilized is a life saved.