Is Manila ready for an earthquake?

So far, and thankfully, Bohol has never been stricken with very tragic disasters. Sometimes, even when there are forecasts or threats of a coming calamity, on the day that it is said the calamity will happen, we seem to be spared from it on the last minute. But I would have to admit that if ever, God forbid, our luck should run low, we are never really prepared for anything. Even when there are threats of a coming calamity, we barely even move a muscle. We just shrug and confidently say that God will again spare us this time. Thanks for your post because it made me realize how vulnerable we are in case a certain calamity will occur.

We can prepare when a storm is coming but we will always be caught off guard when earthquake strikes. I think our government is doing all they can to prepare for natural calamities such as earthquakes. LRTA conducts an earthquake drill and it is successful. Schools are doing earthquake drills too. Let us hope this earthquake you are saying will not strike us.

I think it is good to be prepared for all these calamities but how to be prepared is the biggest question. How do you prepare for an earthquake? If our buildings were constructed as it were in Japan then that is a good preparation but I don't think all our commercial buildings are like that. Most of our homes are definitely not either. Well to me, my only preparation is prayer. In good times or bad times, I don't cease to pray so that the Lord will continuously protect me and my family even in times of disasters. The trouble with us people is that we only go to God when we are in trouble. When every thing seems fine...we set aside God. We must remember that it is only in God's wings could be find the most secured shelter. Only He has the power to save us from all calamities. No amount of preparation is greater than the the mercy of God.

Prepared? much better to say if we are spiritually prepared because no matter what happens to us, we know that God is the one that holds our life and we can be with Him. No matter how the government is said to prepare the place or any agency is there to assist, if it is called by nature, we cannot do anything nor we can't control it. I am talking about the magnitude of the quake, we will never know how or when is it going to happen and where will it hit. We just need to pray to God for mercy and protection specially to our loved ones.

I think Manila City is not yet ready for any kind of devastation like an earthquake. Look what happen to us from Ondoy experience.

I dont think so cause most of the buildings here are still old and most of the people in the squatters area is not aware what they are going to do when earthquake comes. We don't have enough advance equipment to be protected during earthquake.

we can never be ready for such events when it actually happens to us. believe me, we can prepare, we can train, have a funds ready - but nothing will prepare you for the actual events when it occurs. Just make sure that you are alert, and will not be tensed when it happens - you can save your life and you can also save others if you remain calm and if you think clearly under such circumstances. As for the government, they can be prepared for it, maybe have a fund ready with them... maybe they can have the troops out already in matter of minutes - but i doubt it. Ondoy has caused so much and the government's rescue efforts was ineffective and let people wait a couple of hours - not minutes trapped in their homes, etc.

To say that our government is ready for such disasters is like saying that pigs can lay eggs. My brother has asked me to prepare an emergency bag since Ondoy. I live near Marikina and when Ondoy hit, we were like semi-isolated. And in such eventuality or disaster, a lot of people tend to panic which adds to the damage. You can see it in big fires where there are so many bystanders (miron) that add to the firefighters dilemma. Our hospitals are also not equipped for large scale disasters too. Ondoy was one of the wide scale disasters that we experienced and everyone saw how our government responded, which was as we say, a disaster.

You are right about that. With what we are seeing from our surroundings we never are prepared for any disaster that will hit us. Yes, there are some efforts for the government to prepare and equip themselves with emergency kits around but then when were hit like the ones like Ondoy we aren't prepared at all. I guess the best thing to do is for each to brace for what is yet to come. I have attended a seminar for disaster preparedness and even the NDCC that spoke with us accepted that there will really be casualties no matter how prepared are you in times like earthquakes and other calamities that will strike us. And NDCC will always be unprepared no matter how they trained and equipped themselves when the major calamity happen. We can see that with Chile lately and they are one of the most prone to be hit by earthquakes so they have strict building codes and their disaster preparedness is well planned but when they were hit by the major ones they still are unprepared to see the destruction. Although one thing good with them is the citizens seems to be prepared because the casualties are lesser than the Haiti. In the seminar they pinpointed the places that will be hit bad by a major earthquake, unfortunately Marikina is one of the places mention because it is located on a ground that is classified as soft soil mainly like Makati and some parts of Pasig. These areas when shaken violently would loosen soil and could create liquefaction which is a dangerous thing if you are standing on it.

First and foremost, pray hard the earthquake with that magnitude does not happen to us. Second, since you say our vicinity is prone to such a disaster, always be prepared. Keep exit doors free from furniture. The 1990 quake had its epicenter in Pangasinan. But Baguio was hit hard and isolated. When that quake shook us in QC, I was comfortable on a sofa. It was so shocking I couldn't move. We can never be prepared absolutely.

when it comes to eartquake i think that we cannot make any preparation for that. because nobody knows when will it happen. it come unexpectedly. the only thing that we can do is to pray that all of us will be safe when it eartquake occurred.

We in Indonesia has face big scale earthquake and few of it caused Tsunami. Tsunami has taken so many victim. I hope our Government more prepare when it happen again, because its something we can not avoid and preparation will save more life. We can not chose where we born and I think we just need to adjust to it.

I live in Parañaque City and I just hope an earthquake would spare our country from that devastating event. Who's not scared of an earthquake; everybody does. But I believe in prayers. Surely if we pray a miracle will happen. I think that our government is not ready. When did you remember that our government is ready? Ready for election maybe. The answer is positive. Our government officials are only ready for debates, nonsense talks, and grand standings. In the Philippines, the only city or province that does not belong to a fault line is Palawan. We should be ready. It's not que sera sera for me. I pray for my family, for the Filipinos who could not do something to alleviate their misery living in distressed areas and I pray that God will uses His power to punish the corrupt government officials.

I think manila is not ready because as you can see many structure are not so durable and old.. if other big countries can't get rid of that calamity manila will surely too.

hi there! i live in san juan city though its kinda far from marikina fault line still we wouldn't know if we are safe when we an earthquake hit us. nobody knows who are safe so it is better to know much about anything on how to find ways when that time comes. be sure to read relevant things on how to deal on calamities.have a nice day ahead!

That is really scary news. I know we have been through a lot of earthquakes but personally I have never experienced it. I was either too young or too asleep. I'm not sure if the government is ready for such calamity. Although we did good with Ondoy, an earthquake is still a different thing.

dear theadvocate, here is hoping that it doesnt come because it would really do a lot of damage to properties and lives. i guess the government is not at all prepared for the eventualities. what they will do is ask help from other countries. they are so used to doing that during calamities even if it continues to happen every year. unless a leader with a political will, would do something.. then it is going to stay that way.. sooooo sad. ann

All we can do is to prepare ourselves for the worst scenario. I mean philippines will be more than just a sitting duck if that much of an earthquake will hit the country. Look at those other rich countries that were hit recently no matter how ready they are casualties and damage will be enormous, thats why all that we can do is hope for God's guidance most of the time

When did Philippines ever become prepared in dealing natural calamities? Was there a time that we did?