Story by Leinellyn Palomique
The series of disaster drills made the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman community prepared for fire and earthquake according to a UP Diliman Police (UPDP) officer.
“Aside from the informal settlers inside the campus, I can say that the UP community is 90 percent prepared,” said UPDP Administration Officer III Romy Ancheta.
He attributed this to a series of earthquake drills UPDP, in cooperation with different units and colleges, conducted throughout the semester. UPD also partake in fire drills conducted by the national government in partnership with the UP administration.
Following the earthquake last April 22, the UP administration conducted building inspections for earthquake-related damages.
UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan issued an announcement saying that there was no earthquake-related damage in UPD but Romulo Hall, which underwent series of repairs in the past, remains off-limits to the public.
The earthquake was felt by people inside the campus at that time.
“I was here in the department office at that time. The glass wall in front of me was shaking tremendously. I did not feel safe because it might break,” UP Journalism Department Staff Kristine Joy Onguda shared her experience in the recent earthquake.
Ancheta said UPDP regularly conduct building inspections to assess and check the safety of the buildings inside the campus.
Non-compliant buildings
Ancheta said that some of the old UPD buildings are non-compliant to the building code, also known as R.A. 6541 or National Building Code of the Philippines.
He said that he was not in the position to comment on why the old buildings are still being used despite the safety hazard, but he said that the new buildings abide with the said code.
In the past five years, there were already four buildings inside the campus engulfed by fire. These were College of Art and Sciences Alumni Association (CASAA) Food Center (June 13, 2015), Bowling Center (July 1, 2015), Faculty Center (March 31, 2016), and Shopping Center (March 8, 2018).
Ancheta assured that UPDP ensures that most of the buildings have fire extinguishers.
“Fire extinguishers are regularly refilled in case the expiry date has lapsed,” he added.
He said that water sprinklers are installed in new buildings.
According to Ancheta, the students, faculty, staff, and residents can help in preventing disasters like fire. Unplugging electronics would already lessen the chance of a fire-related disaster.
Prepared to respond
“Here in UPDP, we are prepared to respond in case of any disaster," Ancheta said.
He said that almost everyone in UPDP attended seminars and underwent trainings on disaster preparedness, earthquake and landslide rescue, and first aid, among others.
"I'm not sure if the equipment necessary for quick response in case of such eventualities were already bought by the (UP)admin," Ancheta said.
He reminded the UPD community to apply what they learn from the drills in case of any disaster.
You may reach UP Diliman Police through:
Loc. 113 (desk)/981-850
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