TAGUIG CITY, Metro Manila—Prioritizing the safety and well-being of its workforce, PNOC rolled out a series of disaster preparedness activities to reinforce employee awareness, readiness, and response capabilities in the event of earthquakes and other emergencies.
Organized by the Personnel Services Division in collaboration with the PNOC Emergency Response Team (ERT), an earthquake awareness orientation was held on November 5, 2025 to provide employees with practical reminders on how to act during emergency situations.
Featuring Dr. Raymond Patrick R. Maximo from the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the session covered a comprehensive overview of the country’s seismic landscape. He also discussed the factors that make the Philippines highly prone to strong earthquakes, highlighted recent major incidents, and presented hazard scenarios that could impact Metro Manila.
Dr. Maximo also introduced tools such as PHIVOLCS FaultFinder and HazardHunterPH, which allow individuals to access location-specific hazard information. By encouraging the use of these tools, he underscored the importance of active participation in safety initiatives. “Be involved. Disaster preparedness is everyone’s business,” he noted.
“It is not a matter of when it will happen or if it will happen. The context is if it happens, how prepared are we? Let’s equip ourselves today when there is no hazard yet. The best time to prepare is now,” he added.
Complementing the information session, PNOC’s Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) initiated the distribution of Emergency Go Bags to all employees, including those in offsite offices in Bataan and Batangas. The initiative was based on a survey administered by the GFPS, which revealed that several employees did not have access to personally prepared emergency kits. It is also aligned with Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, which encourages organizations to strengthen internal preparedness mechanisms.
The company’s preparedness efforts continued as PNOC employees participated in the 4th Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on November 6, 2025. Personnel from various offices practiced the “Duck, Cover, and Hold” procedure, brought their emergency go-bags, and followed evacuation protocols under the guidance of the company’s General Services Division and the ERT.
With continued investments in safety and preparedness, PNOC is shaping a well-informed, well-equipped, and resilient workforce capable of responding effectively to any critical situation that may arise.
