Metro Manila Builds “Oplan Metro Yakal” As Response Plan To Big One Earthquake
Metro Manila builds “Oplan Metro Yakal” a response plan to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake called the ‘Big One’ that could strike the West Valley Fault.
Volcanology experts were expecting the “Big One” earthquake that could possibly strike the West Valley Fault within our lifetime. The “Big One” is a major earthquake that could cause a total devastation in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.
The “Big One” earthquake is expected to kill over 33, 500 people and injured more than 115, 000 people due to damage and collapsed building under the West Valley Fault, according to the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS).
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) came up with a response plan to prepare for the impending major earthquake. The response plan is called “Oplan Metro Yakal,” which aims to help the residents in the areas that could possibly be affected to be well-prepared.
Metro Yakal will create a task force that will outline the operations, workflows, and response in the National Capital Region (NCR) in a case of an earthquake. It will also outline the responsibilities of local government units, government agency, and private sector when the “Big One” strikes.
“Task Force Rainbow” was created by the Task Force to prepare in carrying humanitarian aid mission in the affected areas of the major earthquake. The task group was tasked to do the following:
- Emergency evacuation
- Search and rescue
- Relief
- Debris clearing
- Emergency transport
- Emergency communication
- Traffic management and control
- Emergency engineering
- Camp sanitation and health management
- Rehabilitation services
- Burial services
The tasks will be done with the help of NCR based national agencies including:
- Philippine National Police
- Department of Health
- Department of Transportation and Communication
- Department of Social Welfare and Development
- Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense
- Armed Forces of the Philippines NCR Command
- Bureau of Fire Protection
- Department of Public Works and Highways
- Department of Interior and Local Government
- Philippine Coast Guard
On the upcoming Metro Manila-wide earthquake drill on July 30, 2017, will simulate the Metro Yakal and local contingency plans. The local government was also advising everyone to prepare personal emergency plans as preparation to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake.