The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) took another major step toward strengthening disaster readiness as more than 3,000 employees, contractors, and partners joined a large-scale earthquake simulation for the Fourth Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED). The initiative, spearheaded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), placed the spotlight on Meralco’s expanding efforts to build a stronger safety and resilience culture.
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Held at the Meralco Operating Center in Pasig City, the drill recreated the conditions of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault—an event widely known as “The Big One.” The simulation sought to test the company’s emergency procedures, evaluate business continuity systems, and enhance staff readiness during high-impact disasters.
Unlike previous drills, this year’s activity served as Meralco’s first full-scale simulation conducted without pre-deployed resources, making the scenario as close to real-life as possible. Various emergency operations were performed, including collapsed structure rescue, high-angle extraction, mass casualty triage, fire suppression, and rapid damage assessment of affected structures.
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Participants also activated Meralco’s business continuity plans and set up essential emergency facilities such as an incident command post, an emergency operations center, mobile kitchen units, a field hospital, and designated evacuation zones. The company tested communication protocols using satellite phones to ensure coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and other internal units should traditional networks become unavailable.
Temporary workspaces were likewise established to demonstrate how displaced employees could continue operations after a major quake. Representatives from the Office of Civil Defense–NCR, the Pasig City DRRM Office, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation were present to observe and assess the full exercise.
Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho emphasized that the drill reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding its workforce and maintaining essential services. He noted that running simulations under realistic conditions allows Meralco to strengthen its emergency response capabilities and ensure continuous support for the communities it serves.
Source: DailyTribune
West Valley Fault 
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