The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Chief, Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, delivered a compelling call to action during Security Bank’s First Quarter 2025 Townhall, emphasizing that the Philippines must prepare for the inevitable: the next major earthquake. Speaking to bank employees and officers, Nepomuceno highlighted that the question is not if, but when a significant seismic event will occur, citing recent global earthquakes as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability.
He warned that a potential magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault could strike Metro Manila, with devastating consequences. According to government data, such an event could result in the loss of between 30,000 and 52,000 lives, injure at least 160,000 people, and displace millions. “We must prepare now,” Nepomuceno stressed. “In a scenario like that, hospitals will be overwhelmed. The most effective way to save lives is to start preparing today.”
Nepomuceno outlined three critical areas for earthquake preparedness. First, he emphasized that engineering solutions are the first line of defense. “Compliance with the National Building Code is non-negotiable,” he declared. “Buildings must be designed and constructed to withstand at least a magnitude 8.5 earthquake.” The OCD is actively collaborating with the Department of Trade and Industry and private sector engineers to improve the quality of construction materials—particularly steel rebars—and to crack down on substandard imports that undermine building safety standards. He also highlighted the importance of avoiding construction in no-build zones such as fault lines and landslide-prone areas. To assist communities, Nepomuceno recommended the use of HazardHunterPH, a platform that enables the public to check for geohazards and plan safer locations for development.
The second area he discussed was the importance of the simple yet life-saving technique of “Duck, Cover, and Hold.” Nepomuceno underscored that this scientifically backed method can save lives in the critical first seconds of an earthquake by helping individuals avoid falling debris and maintain balance. He urged families and workplaces to go beyond drills by creating concrete plans that identify evacuation routes, establish meet-up points, and find open spaces where people can safely regroup, especially when communication networks are disrupted.
Third, he addressed the need to strengthen government response capabilities. Acknowledging the country’s limited resources compared to earthquake-prone nations like Japan, Nepomuceno candidly stated, “Unlike Japan, which has over 12,000 highly trained earthquake responders, the Philippines has far fewer. But we are not sitting idle.” The OCD is actively coordinating with the Philippine Army, Navy, Air Force, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Red Cross, Coast Guard, and other agencies to increase the number of trained responders. A unified roster of deployable personnel and assets is being developed, and partnerships are expanding with reserve forces, college volunteers through the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) and National Service Training Program (NSTP), as well as private organizations such as the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and ARISE Philippines.
“Our goal is to expand, organize, and build capacity,” Nepomuceno said. “But remember, the first responders to save lives during an earthquake will ultimately be the people themselves.” He concluded his speech by thanking Security Bank for the opportunity to raise awareness. “Preparedness begins with awareness,” he stressed. “Gatherings like this are essential to building a culture of resilience.”
“The most effective way to reduce the impact of earthquakes is through proactive preparation, community awareness, and strict adherence to safety standards,” Nepomuceno emphasized, urging everyone to take individual and collective responsibility for disaster readiness.
