PANABO CITY — Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) participated in the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for the 1st Quarter of 2026, spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and its partner agencies under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
DNSC was selected by the Davao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) as the observed institution in the province, allowing evaluators to closely assess the implementation of the earthquake preparedness simulation and the institution’s emergency response mechanisms.
At the onset of the drill, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the College Incident Management Team (CIMT) were activated to coordinate response protocols across the campus. Participants carried out the standard “Duck, Cover, and Hold” protective action, followed by an orderly evacuation toward designated assembly areas in accordance with the college’s emergency evacuation plan.
To test response capabilities under high-impact conditions, organizers simulated a magnitude 8.3 earthquake scenario, resulting in multiple casualties dispersed throughout the campus grounds. The exercise included mock victims with minor and major injuries, requiring responders to perform basic life support (BLS), triage procedures, and emergency first aid while coordinating rescue and medical response.
As part of the capability-building component, personnel from the PDRRMO also conducted practical demonstrations on technical rescue operations, including zipline or rappelling-based evacuation techniques and controlled high-elevation jumps using an inflatable rescue cushion, equipping participants with additional emergency response skills for complex rescue scenarios.
The activity was graced by Glenda O. Delideli, Department Head and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, together with management officers and officials from the PDRRMO, who observed the conduct of the simulation and evaluated the institution’s preparedness measures.
Following the exercise, a post-drill debriefing session was held to review operational performance, identify areas for improvement, and reinforce best practices in disaster response. During the session, Girley S. Gumanao, Acting Responsible Officer and Vice President for Academic Affairs, expressed appreciation to all participants, emphasizing the importance of collective vigilance and preparedness in building a resilient academic community.
