Some government offices in Bohol do not have emergency equipment such as emergency lights and non-defective fire alarms to be used during calamities, authorities discovered yesterday, June 22, 2016 during the nationwide earthquake drill.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Tagbilaran City listed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial office as among those that did not have enough safety equipment to be used in emergencies.

According the city fire officials, the office did not have emergency lights and had defective equipment such as fire alarms while it was noted that participants in the office left their disaster and medical kit during the drill.

The earthquake drill in Bohol was led by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) officer Anthony Damalerio and was conducted through the directive of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in its effort to prepare the country for earthquakes and other calamities.

Governor Edgar Chatto also directed local government units across the province to conduct earthquake drills for residents in their respective areas.

Other groups worked with PDRRMC in organizing the drill including BFP-Tagbilaran, TaRSIER 117, the DILG office, Department of Public Works and Highways, Cogon High School, and the Bohol Island State University Main Campus.

During the drill, fire exits and routes to be taken during emergencies were traced and used by the participants while authorities checked emergency equipment and the public’s knowledge on what to do when an earthquake or other calamities hit.

Authorities said that overall the participants including students passed the earthquake drill. (with reports from Rey Tutas)