MALOLOS CITY -- With sirens blaring, ambulances and fire trucks streaked inside the campus grounds of the Bulacan State University (BulSU) while thousands of students were herded out of their rooms to an open field by their teachers as they participated in a one-day earthquake drill the other day.

Paramedics and rescue volunteers also presented proper handling of earthquake victims as well as administration of first aid treatment to students and teachers.

Provincial administrator Jim Valerio said the Provincial Disaster Management Office, in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense-Region 3, conducted the drill to create awareness among students and faculty members on what to do when an earthquake hits their campus.

Valerio said the earthquake drill is composed of seven steps: (1) positioning of siren; (2) evacuation; (3) establish Incident Command Post (ICP); (4) establish two first aid stations; (5) fire suppression and rescue operation; (6) transfer of victims to Bulacan Medical Center and; (7) Incident Commander will evaluate status of the whole campus in order to declare scene or campus is safe.

Valerio commended the volunteers who participated in the said drill.

“Sa ngalan po ng ating Governor Willy Alvarado, nagpapasalamat kami dahil nakiisa kayo sa gawaing ito. Mahalaga po na malaman natin ang mga bagay na ito nang sa gayon ay alam natin kung paano kikilos pagdating ng mga ganitong sakuna (Through our Governor Willy Alvarado, we would thank all of you for joining in this activity. It is important for us to learn these things so that we know how to move in case of this kind of accident)”, Valerio said.

Civil Defense Regional Director Neri Amparo said BulSU was chosen to be the venue of the earthquake drill because of its large number of students and to prepare them in case a strong earthquake hits their school.

Volunteer teams from the Bulacan 566 Rescuers, Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils of Sta. Maria, Calumpit, Marilao and Pulilan, Baliuag Assistance Rescue Group (BARG), Rescue 117 and the support teams of Spectrum, ARREST, Philippine Army 561 B San Jose, 18th Special Forces PA, Bulacan Fire Protection Malolos, BSU Police Auxiliary and Philippine Red Cross-Bulacan and Bulacan Police Provincial Office participated in the drill.