The University of the Philippines Visayas takes earthquake drills seriously. Not only because preparedness often spells the difference between life and death, but more so because, according to PHIVOLCS, there is the West Panay Fault that includes the town of Miagao, where the main campus is located, and the neighboring town of San Joaquin.
Thus, UPV once again joined the entire country during the 1st Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on March 9, 2023 at the UPV Miagao campus.
The drill was organized by the UPV Crisis Management Committee (CMC) chaired by Chancellor Clement Camposano, with Vice Chancellor for Administration John Lorenz Belanio as vice-chair and UPV Iloilo Incident Commander.
For the past year, the Committee has been conducting a series of drills for the various buildings inside the Miagao campus and several off-campus research centers and facilities. Today it focused on the College of Arts and Sciences, which is UPV’s biggest college, the College Union Building, the University Library, museum and Villadolid Hall, considered as one cluster.
Prof. Nilo Araneta, Associate Dean of the CAS, was the Cluster Incident Commander. Asst. Prof. Ramil Atando, College of Management faculty and Project Development Assistant for Crisis Management, together with CMC Secretariat Ms. Ellaine Rae Dela Cruz and Mr. Jarem Espinosa, prepared the logistics and supervised the drill. Assisting during the drill were the Security Service Force, Health Services Unit, and the Campus Maintenance and Development Office.
Also present were members of the MDRRMO of the Miagao LGU, led by Ms. Zoila Fernandez, LDRRM Assistant, who observed the conduct of the drill and offered insights on how to further improve UPV’s readiness and response to such a calamity during the post mortem that followed.
UPV’s participation is also in response to a directive from the Office of Civil Defense and Memorandum PAJ 23 -05 of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez.
