MARILAO, Bulacan – SM malls in Marilao, Baliwag, and Pulilan, along with the Region 3 Police Office in Pampanga, actively participated in the third quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on September 26.

SM City Marilao coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bulacan Provincial Fire Marshal SSupt. Ernesto Pagdanganan, as well as the PNP Marilao and the Marilao MDRRMO, to conduct the drill.

The exercise began at exactly 9 a.m. and simulated various crisis scenarios stemming from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

Evacuation and rescue drills were carried out to enhance the preparedness and coordination of the mall’s Emergency Response Team with other key units.

Similarly, personnel from SM City Baliwag and SM Center Pulilan participated in the nationwide drill, conducting rapid emergency response activities. These included administering first aid to simulated severely injured victims, setting up an emergency command center, and establishing a communication system.

In addition to the earthquake drill, Pagdanganan delivered a lecture on earthquake preparedness, attended by SM employees, agency personnel, tenants, and affiliates. The session covered topics such as worst-case scenarios, evacuation routes, first aid treatment, and contingency planning.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr., Regional Director of Central Luzon Police, explained that the quarterly earthquake drill is designed to enhance awareness, preparedness, and readiness among police personnel and other employees inside the regional police office at Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga, in case of an actual earthquake.

More than 500 police personnel, employees, and students within the camp participated in the drill.

Participants were reminded that during an earthquake, the safest actions are to drop to the ground, find cover, and hold on.

The drill commenced with a one-minute siren, during which all PNP personnel and employees dropped to the ground, found cover under their desks, and held on. Afterward, they evacuated the building in a calm manner, with both hands covering the back of their heads to protect against falling debris, and proceeded to the designated evacuation area at the Parade Ground in front of the Admin Building.

The drill aimed to prevent panic during an actual earthquake scenario.

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