In connection with the climate change and disaster awareness, Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) Medical Services Department in cooperation with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 8 conducted the first earthquake drill in the University last July 21.

The drill initiated at exactly 3:00 pm with loud ring of fire alarms and sirens all over the vicinity. The actual set-up scenario was a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that shook Tacloban City, including EVSU, and collapsed Information Technology (IT) building.

All students and faculty members including Integrated Secondary Laboratory School (ISLS) executed the instruction given before the drill. After the fire alarms and sirens stopped they went out of their respective buildings and followed the signage “fire exit” posted on the walls of each building to guide them towards the evacuation sites particularly the auditorium volley ball court, EVSU Rotonda, and oval/soccer field.

It resulted to ten victims (assigned BSIT-1C students). They were identified with their artificial injuries, namely: Christian Dave Albina (contusion frontal area), Cindy Echavez and Rona Jane Nombre (second degree burn), Charisse de Veyra and Salome Gabornes (multiple superficial skin abrasion), Annalyn Hubayan (head injury), Reynaldo Lacdo-o (punctured wound), Kevin Culas (fractured right thigh), Marigel Versoza (multiple lacerated wound), and Ira Jay Amarante (fractured left leg). They were assisted by the EVSU Emergency Response Team (ERT), Tacloban Delta Fire Volunteer Rescue (TDVFR), Air force and Naval Reserved officers, and security guards.

ERT and TDVFR members, with fire truck and ambulance, went hurriedly to the IT Building where they tried to save the critical lives of the ten victims. Afterwhich, the OCD evaluated the strengths and lapses of the earthquake intensity through a conference held at EVSU Graduate School (GS) Function Room. Mr. Rey M. Gozon, OCD Region 8 Assistant Regional Director with colleague Ms. Cherelyn Lubang, Training Officer, some of the university personnel, volunteer groups, faculty members and few other students attended the said conference.

Gozon revealed that there were some lapses seen during the drill especially on the part of students and instructors who were not serious and on some signage that has been tampered and dislocated. He further recommended that EVSU should formulate School Disaster Management Committee for preparation of future calamities.