15 JUNE 2023, MANILA — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) promptly conducts emergency evacuation at its Head Office in Port Area, Manila after the earthquake happened at 10 a.m. today, 15 June 2023.
More or less 800 employees of the agency were evacuated from the PPA Head Office building going to a safer area in the event of structure collapse or damage to its office's facilities.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) a magnitude of 6.2 earthquake was recorded in the southwestern part of Calatagan, Batangas which is its epicenter with a depth of 119 Kilometers.
Aside from the PPA Head Office, earthquake safety protocol was likewise implemented in the Port Management Offices of NCR North, NCR South, Batangas, and Mindoro, where the tremor was also felt.
"Handa naman po tayo sa anumang kalamidad lalo na po sa lindol dahil every year nagsasagawa tayo ng earthquake drill kaya kung makikita niyo po kanina mabilis na nakababa ang mga empleyado at alam rin ng bawat isa ang dapat gawin sa mga ganitong di inaasahang pagkakataon. Yung mga structures po natin, we make sure that it is in line with the international safety standards," PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said.
According to PPA Detailed Engineer Division Manager Engineer Rolando Querubin, there is no need for worry among the employees since the PPA Corporate Building was built in accordance with the Philippine National Structural Code and is strong enough to resist these types of earthquakes.
"Huwag silang mabahala. Our building is designed with the National Structural Code of the Philippines. So, I urged them not to panic because all our buildings are safe," stated by PPA DED Manager Engr. Querubin.
After declaring safe return to the building subsequent to the thorough inspection conducted by the Engineering Team, employees were permitted to enter the office building by 10:47 a.m. Except for PMO Batangas, with small cracks discovered in some parts of its building but was assured by the Post Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) team that it had no effect on the structural integrity of the building, operations have resumed and no damage has been recorded in other Port Management Offices (PMOs) across the country.
In a bid to ensure the readiness of its facilities and personnel during tremor, PPA regularly holds a quarterly conduct of earthquake drill that begins every March along with its 25 Port Management Offices nationwide. ###