One with the government’s continuing efforts to promote disaster awareness and preparedness among all citizens, and test the readiness and responsiveness of communities and offices to disasters, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro participated in the second quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on 10 June 2021.

A total of 169 participants joined the drill including those in the Terminal Management Office of Balingoan and Camiguin, the LGUs and other agencies stationed at the terminals, personnel of Oroport Cargohandling Services Inc., the cargo handling operator in the Port of Cagayan de Oro, and the neighboring Shell Northern Mindanao Import Facility.

The participants executed the “Duck, Cover, and Hold” while the simulated earthquake that ran for a minute was ongoing, indicated by the siren of the fire alarm system at exactly 9:00 in the morning.

As part of the minimum public health protocols, all were remindedto maintain wearing of the face masks and face shields throughout the drill and to stay in their respective workstations instead of evacuating the building to avoid mass gathering at the designated evacuation areas.

The Command Center (COMCen), the central communication hub of the Port of Cagayan de Oro, managed by the Port Police Division, conducted a net call to all stations for emergency reporting and other security protocols as part of the communications drill during emergencies.

The Oroport, on the other hand, deployed its fire truck in the port as part of the emergency drill to enhance preparedness and responsiveness to fire incidents that may occur around the ports after the earthquake.

The drill ran for four minutes and 45 seconds and was officially concluded after the Port’s Station Commander signaled the termination.