13/03/2026
12 March 2026 || ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ง ๐ค๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ (๐ก๐ฆ๐๐) ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
The 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) 2026 was successfully conducted on March 12, 2026 at the Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU) Gymnasium, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and partner agencies in a unified effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities within the university community.
The activity was facilitated in partnership with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Caraga, with Dr. Romel Corbeta Dela Cruz, UDRRM Focal Person, serving as the Incident Commander. The program officially commenced with a prayer through a multimedia presentation, followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, fostering unity and collective responsibility among participants.
In his Opening Remarks, Dr. Romel Corbeta Dela Cruz emphasized the importance of proactive disaster preparedness, particularly in communities vulnerable to seismic hazards. The morning session continued with a series of informative orientations led by safety professionals and partner agencies, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical disaster-response skills.
Key orientation topics were presented by the following resource speakers:
โข SF01 Marvin C. Bolonia โ Public Fire Education
โข FO2 Al. Vincent C. Cortes โ Fire Safety Tips
โข Clint P. Medina โ Hazard and Earthquake Awareness
โข Edgar B. Catulay โ Earthquake Phases and Proper Response
To conclude the orientation, Dr. Romel Corbeta Dela Cruz provided a briefing and simulation orientation to ensure that all participants clearly understood the procedures for the upcoming drill and that the activity would be conducted in an organized and safe manner.
During the afternoon simulation, the entire university community actively participated in a full-scale earthquake drill. As the alarm sounded across the campus, participants immediately performed the โDuck, Cover, and Holdโ technique before proceeding in an orderly manner toward designated evacuation areas. The drill aimed to transform awareness into action and reinforce the correct response during an actual earthquake emergency.
Under the leadership of Incident Commander Dr. Romel Corbeta Dela Cruz, the UDRRM Responders executed a tactical scenario involving a simulated magnitude 8 earthquake accompanied by a fire incident. The exercise tested coordination, communication, and response efficiency among responders while following established safety protocols and the Incident Command System.
The simulation also included a medical emergency response scenario, where responders managed ten simulated casualties. According to the scenario report, eight individuals were classified as critically injured, while two were considered urgent cases requiring immediate stabilization and transport. Response teams conducted proper triage and demonstrated effective rescue and medical response procedures under simulated high-pressure conditions.
Through this activity, students, faculty, and staff gained valuable hands-on experience in disaster response, further strengthening SNSUโs commitment to building a prepared, resilient, and safety-conscious university community.