KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – NEDA XII, along with the various Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) in SOCCSKSARGEN Region, participated in the CY 2022 First Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on March 10, 2022, at 9:00 A.M. The “Duck, Cover, and Hold” drill was executed while strictly complying with public health protocols prescribed by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum No. 71, series of 2020, on the Interim Guidelines on the Conduct of the NSED during the COVID-19 Pandemic. .

The NSED is a quarterly major endeavor spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to enhance earthquake preparedness through the regular conduct of drills/exercises among the line agencies, LGUs and other government instrumentalities. It also seeks to educate the public on disaster preparedness against earthquakes and test the contingency plans of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs). Disaster preparedness is consistent with Chapter 12 of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), 2017- 2022 on building safe and secure communities.

The activity was undertaken in compliance with NDRRMC Memorandum No. 21, series of 2022 on the conduct of the CY 2022 quarterly nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill. (JDLClave, NEDA XII-DRD)