03/11/2026
Join us tomorrow Nov. 5 (9AM).
𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬' 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝟖.𝟓 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨
The preparedness of government agencies, local government units (LGUs), emergency responders, and communities for major earthquakes and tsunamis will be put to the test through a simulated disaster scenario in Santa Ana, Cagayan, as the highlight of the Fourth Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
The exercise will be led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with member agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local government units.
The NSED program will begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by the ceremonial pressing of the button at 9:00 a.m. to signal the start of the Duck, Cover, and Hold procedure and evacuation drill.
A full-scale exercise based on the earthquake-tsunami scenario will follow.
The scenario will involve a magnitude 8.5 earthquake with an epicenter located 180 kilometers southeast of Santa Ana, Cagayan, triggered by movement along the East Luzon Trough.
The exercise aims to assess and strengthen Santa Ana, Cagayan's disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, particularly its Contingency Plan for Earthquake and Tsunami and the implementation of the Regional Disaster Response Plan (RDRP) of the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).
The simulation will test the capabilities of participating government agencies, emergency responders, and local government units in carrying out and coordinating the following emergency response operations:
-Early Warning System (EWS) Activation
-Community Evacuation
-Emergency Telecommunications
Incident Management Teams (IMTs) Activation
-Alternate Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) Activation
-Logistics Coordination and Management
-Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Management
-Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SRR)
-Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Protection
-Water Search and Rescue (WaSAR)
-Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM)
-Law and Order
-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Hazards and Oil Spill Response
In addition to the main exercise in Santa Ana, Cagayan, earthquake drills and related exercises will also be conducted in various parts of the country, led by the OCD Regional Offices.
The Fourth Quarter NSED will also coincide with the observance of World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) 2026, which carries the theme "Resilience Starts with You." The observance underscores the importance of public awareness and individual preparedness in reducing tsunami risks and mitigating their potential impacts.
As part of the NSED and WTAD observance, the OCD will also hold the "Over Coffee Dialogues: Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness." The forum will bring together government experts and international disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) practitioners.
The OCD encourages the public to participate in the NSED, familiarize themselves with the safety measures to take before, during, and after an earthquake or tsunami, and practice these measures to strengthen individual and community preparedness.