The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) will conduct a nationwide earthquake and tsunami simulation on November 5 to assess the preparedness of government agencies, emergency responders, and communities in handling a major disaster.
The exercise, part of the fourth-quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED), will feature a magnitude 8.5 earthquake scenario centered 180 kilometers southeast of Santa Ana, Cagayan, caused by movement along the East Luzon Trough.
In a statement Tuesday, the OCD said the drill would test the ability of national and local authorities to respond swiftly and coordinate emergency operations during a powerful earthquake and possible tsunami.
Santa Ana, Cagayan, will serve as the main exercise site, where participating agencies under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will evaluate existing contingency plans and disaster response procedures.
The nationwide drill will begin at 9 a.m. with the ceremonial pressing of a button signaling participants to perform the “Duck, Cover, and Hold” procedure, followed by evacuation exercises.
According to the OCD, the simulation will assess the implementation of Santa Ana’s earthquake and tsunami contingency plan and the Regional Disaster Response Plan of the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Key activities will include activating early warning systems, conducting community evacuations, establishing emergency communications, deploying incident management teams, and coordinating logistics and emergency operations centers.
Participating agencies will also simulate mass casualty management, search and rescue operations, water rescue, evacuation camp management, protection of displaced residents, and procedures for handling missing and deceased individuals.
The exercise will further test responses to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards, as well as oil spills and other emergencies that may arise following a major disaster.
Similar earthquake drills and preparedness activities will be conducted nationwide under the supervision of OCD regional offices.
The fourth-quarter NSED coincides with World Tsunami Awareness Day 2026, which carries the theme “Resilience Starts with You.”
As part of the observance, the OCD will organize the “Over Coffee Dialogues: Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness,” bringing together government experts and international disaster risk reduction practitioners to discuss strategies for improving earthquake and tsunami readiness.
The agency urged the public to actively participate in the nationwide drill and familiarize themselves with safety procedures before, during, and after earthquakes and tsunamis.
The OCD emphasized that regular disaster preparedness exercises are essential to strengthening emergency response capabilities, improving coordination among government agencies, and helping communities protect lives during major disasters.
