The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has backed the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)’s call to hold more frequent earthquake drills in workplaces nationwide, following a series of strong tremors that caused deaths and damage in various parts of the country.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said ensuring workplace safety is a “shared responsibility” between the government, employers, and workers. He said the department supports TUCP’s proposal to improve disaster preparedness through regular drills that promote awareness of emergency protocols.
TUCP party-list Representative and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza urged companies to conduct drills at least twice a month to build “muscle memory” among employees. He also encouraged firms to use the drills as opportunities to hold emergency preparedness sessions and to educate workers about their right to “refuse unsafe work.”
Mendoza stressed that preparedness should go beyond “token and ceremonial compliance” and must become part of everyday workplace culture.
In recent weeks, earthquakes ranging from magnitude 5.0 to 7.2 struck several areas in the Philippines, damaging infrastructure and claiming lives.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered all national agencies to extend aid to affected communities and accelerate recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.