WITH the massive earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria recently in mind, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced yesterday it will open a Disaster Preparedness Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
The importance of a training center also comes in the wake of a magnitude 6 earthquake that hit Masbate early Thursday causing power outage, class and work suspension and the collapse of a portion of a coliseum.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said the construction and installation of training facilities are expected to be completed by next month.
He said the facility aims to provide a “safe, conducive and controlled learning environment” to train not only their personnel but other stakeholders on emergency response and public safety if and when disasters strike.
Artes said the facility would ensure that there are enough “trained rescuers” ready for any disaster or emergency.
Artes said the training center, which will located at the vacant property of the MMDA at the Carmona sanitary landfill, will have facilities for different disaster scenarios.
These include a rappelling tower for basic rope rescue training, confined space structure for collapsible search and rescue and earthquake and landslide rescue, wrecked building with structured rubble pile for K-9 and urban search and rescue training, pancaked collapsed structure and space for heavy-duty extraction for crash vehicle extrication and rescue training.
It will also have a K-9 training facility to develop and train search and rescue canines.
There will also be a earthquake house simulator and earthquake mobile simulator.
The MMDA will also purchase additional search and rescue equipment like life detector and life locator devices, chipping hammer, pneumatic rescue tools, circular and concrete saw, hydraulic cutter, hydraulic concrete crusher, electric drill set, search and rescue helmet, 3-stage solar powered water filtration and shoring equipment.
