By Michelle Ducut
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur, is set to conduct a tsunami drill this month to bolster the preparedness of residents in the face of potential disasters.
The drill follows the recent release of an evacuation guide route and identification of at least three safe evacuation sites: Bantay Arcade, Quirino Stadium, and the Farmers Livelihood Development Center. These sites were selected to serve as shelters in case a magnitude 8 earthquake triggers a tsunami.
Santa Catalina’s nine villages include four coastal communities—Cabittaogan, Subec, Paratong, and Tamorong—that are most vulnerable to tsunamis. Sub-villages such as Mindanao in Paratong and Namnama in Tamorong have been identified as high-risk areas, according to MDRRMO head Janette Rabara.
“While offshore quakes have declined, we need to remain vigilant and strengthen our preparedness measures,” Rabara said in a media interview Friday.
Recent seismic activity underscores the importance of the drill. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported two mild offshore earthquakes, with magnitudes of 2.3 and 2.5, in Santa Catalina on Friday morning. The area also experienced a series of offshore tremors in December last year.
GeoAnalyticsPH estimates that approximately 10,500 residents in Santa Catalina could be affected by a tsunami, highlighting the urgency of the evacuation preparedness plan. Authorities aim to ensure that residents are familiar with evacuation routes and procedures to minimize casualties in the event of a disaster.