SM Supermalls, the country’s biggest mall network, joined the second quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) June 28.
The SM Bacolod mall complex, specifically Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, was among the four areas in the city identified as major drill site by the Western Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Bacolod City was selected as pilot area in Western Visayas for the 2nd quarter NSED. Aside from Park Inn, other drill sites included the public plaza, the Bacolod Public Library near the Rizal Elementary School, and Barangay Taculing.
Each of the sites had teams of observers, composed of the regional DRRMO, Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and heads of local government’s related units.
This exercise was also an opportunity for the SM Group’s emergency response team and security group to activate emergency procedures and guide employees, tenants, agency personnel, and mall goers to the evacuation area and medical area.
The importance of disaster preparedness and resiliency is regularly cascaded alongside practical exercises across the SM Group’s operations, from its management down to the employees and mall frontliners, its press release said. | SM Bacolod photos
