CARIGARA, LEYTE — The Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU)-Carigara Campus successfully conducted a comprehensive earthquake drill on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, involving its students, faculty, and administrative staff. The initiative aims to enhance the campus community’s readiness and response capabilities in the event of a seismic activity.
The drill was spearheaded by EVSU-Carigara headed by Campus Director Renato E. Martija in close coordination with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Carigara. Leading the MDRRMO team on-site was M. Edgardo Jeff Urmeneta Encio, the DRRMO 1/Research & Planning Officer. The coordinated exercise simulated a strong earthquake scenario, prompting participants to immediately execute the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” procedure before safely evacuating buildings and proceeding to designated evacuation areas.
Campus Director Martija emphasized the importance of holding regular drills, pointing out that the Eastern Visayas region is vulnerable to various natural hazards and has recently experienced consecutive earthquakes. “Our goal is to foster a culture of safety and preparedness among everyone on campus. Through these drills, we ensure that every student and employee knows the proper protocol to minimize casualties and damage when a real earthquake strikes,” Martija stated.
Edgardo Jeff Urmeneta Encio commended the EVSU community for its active participation and orderly execution of the evacuation plan. “The level of seriousness and promptness demonstrated by the EVSU-Carigara community is highly encouraging. This successful drill is a testament to the university’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and management, which is a vital component of community resilience,” Encio said. The MDRRMO team also provided real-time feedback and evaluation to identify areas for further improvement in the campus’s disaster response strategy. The successful conduct of the drill marks a significant step in EVSU-Carigara’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its constituents.- Photo by Talutang
