Will people who have encountered airport mishaps believe this?
On Wed, Jun 22, a metro-wide shake drill was led by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The drill was to teach people the right response in case a powerful earthquake hits the National Capital Region. It was also held simultaneously in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna.
In line with the shake drill, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado reported that “the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals can withstand a 7.6-magnitude of earthquake.”
Honrado said that structural experts gave their assurance noting that needed terminal rehabilitation were completed for terminals 1 and 3 in 2015 and 2013 respectively.
MIAA had conducted its own earthquake exercises at the International Cargo Terminal (ICT) in coordination with cargo concessionaires, particularly PAL Cargo, FedEx, and PSI Cargo.
The drill showcased evacuation and rescue operations involving mock victims trapped under debris and cargo following the scenario of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake affecting Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, an evacuation drill was simultaneously conducted at the MIAA Administration Building.
Honrado also guaranteed that airport personnel are always ready to respond to emergencies ranging from aircraft and terminal concerns to natural calamities.
“Assessing the extent of human intervention that can be done to minimize risks is crucial to preparing for the ‘Big One’ aside from simply looking at the possible consequences of an earthquake,” Honrado said.
Under the Airport Emergency Plan, terminal managers and the assistant general manager for operations convene their emergency response teams which are on standby for any untoward incident.
Response teams are in charge of evacuating people inside the terminals to safer holding areas; assisting in medical cases; providing crowd control measures; and ensuring operational efficiency of facilities and equipment. Azer N. Parrocha, Philippine News Agency
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