QUEZON City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas filed a bill mandating public and private educational institutions to join quarterly nationwide simultaneous earthquake and emergency preparedness drill.

House Bill 8135 or the proposed Mandatory Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness Drill Act provides penalties for those who ignore the proposed law.

The bill seeks to protect the public and instill emergency preparedness.

“It is hoped that through this measure, a developed sense of awareness of what to do and appropriate response will be inculcated among the citizenries,” the lawmaker said.

Vargas said that the Philippines is vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, thus the need to hold frequent disaster preparedness drills.

“While the exact time and place where natural disasters like earthquakes could hit are difficult to predict, planned responses can mitigate their catastrophic impacts,” the lawmaker said.