Cebu City Councilor Paul Jun Alcover is urging the city government to conduct unannounced earthquake drills in City Hall and other local government offices, saying advance notice weakens the purpose of disaster preparedness exercises.
In a privilege speech during the City Council’s regular session on June 23, Alcover called on the executive department to stop informing employees of the exact date and time of earthquake drills, arguing that real emergencies occur without warning.
The proposal followed the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on June 19, which involved Cebu City Hall and other government offices.
While recognizing the importance of the activity, Alcover said some participants appeared to treat the drill as a routine requirement rather than a serious emergency preparedness exercise.
“Instead of demonstrating urgency and seriousness, some employees were seen casually posing for group photographs and treating the drill as a social gathering rather than a life-saving exercise,” he said.
Alcover stressed that earthquakes do not come with advance notice, making realistic preparedness exercises essential.
“An earthquake does not send a memorandum before it strikes. It does not announce the exact date, time, or place where destruction will occur,” he said.
“It comes without warning. It does not wait for us to prepare ourselves, finish our work, or gather for a photo opportunity.”
According to the councilor, the primary purpose of earthquake drills is to train people to respond instinctively and correctly during actual emergencies.
“The very essence of an earthquake drill is to condition people to respond instinctively and correctly during an actual emergency. If participants already know the exact schedule and circumstances of the drill, the element of preparedness is diminished,” he said.
“The exercise risks becoming a mere compliance activity instead of a meaningful test of readiness.”
To improve future drills, Alcover proposed informing employees only that an earthquake drill will be conducted within a specific period, without disclosing the exact schedule. Under the proposal, the activation of an alarm or siren would serve as the official signal that a drill is underway.
“The memorandum may simply indicate that an unannounced earthquake drill shall be conducted within a specified period, while the actual activation of the alarm or siren shall serve as the signal that a drill is taking place,” he said.
He said the approach would better simulate actual disaster conditions and provide a more accurate assessment of employee preparedness.
“Employees should remain alert and prepared at all times, not only during a pre-announced schedule,” Alcover added.
The councilor also emphasized that disaster readiness should be measured by how people respond when emergencies occur unexpectedly.
“Disaster preparedness is not measured by attendance during a drill. It is measured by how people react when danger suddenly confronts them,” he said.
“The safety of our employees and the public we serve requires more than compliance; it requires genuine readiness.”
Alcover moved for the City Council to formally request Mayor Nestor Archival Sr., through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Office of the City Administrator, to implement surprise earthquake drills in Cebu City government offices.
“As public servants, we must lead by example in promoting a culture of vigilance, preparedness, and resilience,” he said.
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