DAVAO CITY — Hundreds of Dabawenyos took part in Davao City’s first nighttime earthquake drill on September 10, with the exercise staged at 8 p.m. in a mall, a hospital and two colleges along JP Laurel in Bajada.
The nighttime activity followed the city’s participation in the third-quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill earlier that day. A daytime exercise was held at 2 p.m. across schools, private companies and government institutions, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
Davao City’s City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), together with the Office of Civil Defense, conducted the nighttime exercise after the city was selected as a pilot area. The City Government of Davao said the chosen establishments reflected locations that can remain crowded after dark, including malls, schools and hospitals.
During the drill, employees, mallgoers and students practiced earthquake-response procedures, including the proper use of emergency exits, avoiding panic and cooperating with other participants. CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran emphasized that preparedness should account for earthquakes occurring at any time of day.
Why the nighttime drill matters
Most organized earthquake drills are conducted during daytime operating hours. Testing response procedures at night gives establishments and emergency managers an opportunity to evaluate how evacuation planning, staffing, communications, lighting and crowd movement may differ after dark.
The PIA report also noted that the Central Davao Fault System traverses the city and identified the Tamugan, Lacson, Dacudao, Pangyan-Biao Escuela and New Carmen fault segments. CDRRMO has separately continued its “Walk the Fault” initiative to improve awareness of local fault zones. Readers can also use PHIVOLCS hazard-checking tools to better understand fault and hazard information for a specific location.
For Davao City, the pilot adds another preparedness scenario to routine earthquake exercises: how crowded public establishments respond when a strong earthquake occurs outside normal daytime conditions.
Sources: City Government of Davao; Philippine Information Agency.
Stay Prepared with WVF
Join the WestValleyFault.com email list for the Weekly Earthquake Intelligence Report, Special Reports and practical preparedness guidance. As a welcome gift, you’ll receive the FREE Earthquake Quick Start Guide.
Free PDF. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Recommended Reading
- How Close Is Your Home to the West Valley Fault? A Step-by-Step PHIVOLCS Hazard Check
- Philippines Earthquake & Preparedness Weekly Report (Issue #004): July 12–18, 2026
- Philippines Earthquake & Preparedness Weekly Report (Issue #001): June 20–26, 2026
Leave a Reply