By: Sophia Pacheco
Photo: Maverick Rhoy De Vera | The LANCE
The activity aimed to strengthen disaster preparedness, reinforce safety protocols, and promote shared responsibility within the Letran community in anticipation of a major earthquake.
Mr. Reuel Ibañez, Pollution Control Officer (PCO), discussed the proper procedures during an earthquake, emphasizing the “Drop, Cover, and Hold” method.
“Safety should be shared and practiced as a lifestyle, a habit, and a goal. With this mindset, we can achieve and ensure protection against harm and danger for the benefit of our friends, families, and ourselves,”
He reminded participants to remain calm, find a safe place, protect their heads, and avoid panicking to prevent injuries and loss of consciousness.
Mr. Ibañez also explained that evacuation should only begin after the shaking stops and once the alarm from Manila City Hall is heard.
He also presented the outline of the designated evacuation routes and areas for each building:
ST. DOMINIC DE GUZMAN (COLLEGE) BUILDING
Second Floor
Rooms 218–220 – Stairway: Main Stairway – Evacuation Area: College Grounds
Rooms 215–217, Balagtas Hall – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: College Grounds
Third Floor
Rooms 304–306 – Stairway: Main Stairway – Evacuation Area: College Grounds
Rooms 301–303, Mabini Hall – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: College Grounds
Fourth Floor
ND Laboratory, Instrumentation Room, Physics Laboratories 1 and 2 – Stairway: Main Stairway – Evacuation Area: College Grounds
Chemistry Laboratory, Laboratory Stock Room, College Laboratory, Physics Laboratory, Biology Laboratory – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: College Grounds
ST. VINCENT FERRER (SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL) BUILDING
Ground Floor
Rooms 104–106, 110–111, SHS Principal’s Office, Music Room – Exit: Main Entrance – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Rooms 101–103, 107–109, Civil Engineering Laboratory – Exit: Legazpi Exit – Evacuation Area: Mother Francisca Monument
Second Floor
Rooms 205–209, 213, SHS Faculty Room, SHS Consultation Room – Stairway: Main Stairway – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Rooms 201–204, 210–212, CRS – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: Mother Francisca Monument
Third Floor
Computer Laboratories 1–3, Speech Laboratory AH1A, Engineering Laboratory – Stairway: Main Stairway – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Rooms AH1B–AH1E, Mac Laboratory, ITSD Office, CEIT Chairman’s Office – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: Mother Francisca Monument
Fourth Floor
All Rooms – Exit: Main Entrance – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS LIBRARY BUILDING
Second Floor
St. Thomas Hall – Stairway: Main Entrance – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Elementary Library – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Third Floor
Filipiniana Library, Service Room, Librarian’s Office – Stairway: Main Entrance – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
College Library – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Fourth Floor
JHS/SHS Library – Exit: Main Door – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Graduate School Library – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Fifth Floor
HM Suite, Bar Laboratory, Kitchen Laboratory, Food Laboratory 1 – Exit: Main Door – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
HM Rooms 1–3 – Stairway: Service Stairway – Evacuation Area: St. Thomas Grounds
Designated evacuation areas include the college grounds, elementary grounds, St. Thomas grounds, Mother Francisca Monument, and the side wall near the Quadricentennial and Boy Scout Monument. Red and green flags will be raised to guide evacuees during the drill.
Ms. Kathleen Magno, Safety Officer 3, discussed the roles and responsibilities of different members of the community, including students, teachers, employees, priests, concessionaires, visitors, and suppliers.
In his closing remarks, Asst. Prof. Winchell Palomeno, CMC member and Director of the Information Technology Systems and Development (ITSD), urged participants to take the drill seriously.
“The discipline that you showed today is the same that will show tomorrow,” Asst. Prof. Palomeno said.