MICT conducts emergency evacuation drills amid COVID pandemic

The Manila International Container Terminal’s (MICT) HSE Department, in cooperation with the Emergency Response Team and volunteers from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), carried out earthquake evacuation drills last 28 September.

The drills were held simultaneously in several areas of the terminal including the Engineering area, which houses the MES workshop, MMD and power plant; the Operations building, including the East Gate and security office; CFS 3, including the Human Resource Office and canteen; the RTG and Marine bases; and the Crane Maintenance Section area, including the HSE, Anchorage and FOL offices.

“This is the hard truth: while we are experiencing the effect and threats of the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of a fire, an earthquake and other emergencies is still possible and we do not know when or where it will happen. We still need to be alert and prepared while observing health standards to prevent the transmission of COVID,” explained Edmund Trazo, ICTSI Global HSSE Director.

The drills served to refresh employees and other port users about the measures to be observed before, during, and after an earthquake. Slight changes to drill protocols were made in line with COVID protective measures outlined by the Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases like wearing of face shields and masks and social distancing.

After the evacuation drills, a mock firefighting demonstration was carried out to teach employees how to use fire extinguishers. Philippine Red Cross volunteers also conducted a training demo of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automatic external defibrillator.